Detectives investigating the disappearance of 15-year-old schoolgirl Madison Thomas, known as Maddie, are now treating the case as a child abduction. Maddie vanished from the Southmead area of Bristol on Tuesday, April 26, and officers believe she is likely to be with a man.
It is believed Maddie could be “anywhere in the country” and may have changed her hair colour or may no longer be going by her name. Maddie is a child in foster care, and was last seen 16 days ago by her carers when she told them she was going to the shop. There have been no confirmed sightings of her since.
Avon and Somerset Police have been conducting house-to-house searches in the streets near her home, to no avail so far. Anyone who sees the missing teen, who is described as being around 5ft (1.5m) tall, with shoulder-length brown hair, is asked to call 999.
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(Image: Avon and Somerset Police)
Detective Inspector Laura Miller said Maddie is a child and no one had a right to keep her from her family. She said: “We are no longer investigating Maddie’s disappearance as a missing person case but as a child abduction.
“When Maddie has previously gone missing she has been found in the company of adult men and it is mainly due to this history that we believe she is likely to currently be with someone. Maddie is a child in foster care, no one has permission to keep her from her carers. She is vulnerable and at risk of being taken advantage of. We’re really concerned about her safety and have a dedicated team working extremely hard to locate her.”
DI Miller added: “No one has seen or heard from Maddie for 15 days – since she saw a relative on 26 April when she said she was going to the shop. The circumstances of her disappearance are deeply worrying for us; her family and her carers.
(Image: Avon and Somerset Police)
“We have a number of lines of enquiry and while we’ve had great deal of help from the public to date for which we’re incredibly grateful, we still need more. Officers have carried out CCTV enquiries in the Southmead area where Maddie was last seen and posters have also been handed out to local residents by officers going house to house.
“But Maddie could be anywhere in the country and so we really need our appeal to be shared and reported on as widely as possible.
“We’re asking anyone who sees Maddie to call 999 immediately and anyone who speaks to her or sees her online to call 101. Maddie – if you see this please contact us if you can to let us know you’re safe. Everyone is worried about you.”
Anyone with information should call us and give the call-handler reference number 5222098703. Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
If you have a story you think we should be covering, feel free to email sylvie.wilkinson@reachplc.com
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