MY NIECE IS MISSING (3/9/03 Update: "MICHELLE CAME HOME LAST NIGHT AT 2AM!!!")

self | self

[RMDupree]

Please forgive the vanity, but my family is desperate for some FReeper help and prayers!

My niece, Michelle Berry, left home for a walk at 4:30PM on Sunday, March 2, 2003. She's 14 years old, blonde hair, blue eyes, about 5' 2", between 115-120 pounds. She's a beautiful girl and will be noticed in a crowd.

Michelle has run away before, but has always called or had a friend call for her. But this time, she left wearing flip flops and didn't take anything with her, no money, not her purse, nothing!

Her friends, old boyfriends, etc have not heard from her and are helping us pass out flyers and asking people if they've seen her.

Michelle's parents, Shiela and Allen Berry, are worried sick, as any of us would be in this situation and I'm hoping that some FReeper eyes and prayers can bring Michelle home. This is the FOURTH day and she's NEVER been gone this long, especially without calling her friends!!!

Note: She had her mother's cell phone with her and 2 calls were made. One at 5:04PM where she tried to call her friend Eric, but he did not answer and the other at 5:15PM to her friend Chris who did answer and has told us that she was calling to let him know that she wasn't coming over. We have spoken to the cell phone company and they informed us that no other calls have been logged on that number, but that it appears to still be within the range of the Miami tower.

No one has spoken to her since, but last night, a call came in to the house from that cell phone number. When Allen answered it, the person on the other end hung up. This gives us hope that she is just scared to call, and that's why I'm asking for prayers.

I pray that Michelle is just pulling a teenage stunt and that nothing has happened to her, but as more and more time goes by, our desperation grows. Please pray for her safe and quick return!

Thank you so very much.

Ruthy Dupree

[Luis Gonzalez]

Glad she's home safe and sound.

Now handcuff her to the hot water heater.

[Exit148]

SO glad to hear the good news!

Many on this thread had wondered if she was using a friend to help her hide. Did her friend actually know she was there?

When all calms down, I hope you show her this thread, so that she will see how perfect strangers had concern for her safety. I don't mean to throw guilt on her but it might help her to know that people do care, and her actions, as all our actions, have a ripple effect.

I'm sooo glad that your family have had their prayers answered and can rest their hearts.

[manna]

Prayer and praise ...

[Humidston]

Praise God! Michele has certainly been in my prayers and now I'll pray that this has taught her a big lesson. Something tells me her life is going to be tough for awhile, but that's ok.

(See my post #231.... :-)

[piasa]

Ask her why she spent all that time in a closet when she could have spent it fused to a keyboard on FR like the rest of us!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Your hearts must be singing.

[My Favorite Headache]

Bump for good news Ruthy...Michelle needs counseling..big time.

[Just another Joe]

GRAT news, Ruthie.
Thankful bump to the Lord for bringing her home safely.

[Alouette]

Thank G-D a happy ending!

Hug and kiss her and tell her how much she is loved.

Then ground her for the rest of her natural life.

[RightOnline]

A) Praise God. Literally.

B) I refer you to my original reply on this thread and those three magic words:

GROUNDED FOR LIFE !!!

[mhking]

Thank the Lord for hearing our voices and answering our prayers...

[RMDupree]

Thank the Lord for hearing our voices and answering our prayers...

We most certainly do!

I cannot thank all of you enough for your compassion. It never ceases to amaze me when I rediscover the high quality of the folks here at Free Republic.

Blessings to all of you always!

Ruthy

P.S. Grounded for life is probably an understatement. :)

[tiki]

Thank God! I will continue prayers for this young lady and her family.

[Dianna]

So glad Michelle is safe and sound :) Thanks for letting us know

[AnAmericanMother]

Merciful Saviour! What great news.

Praise to the Lord and all the saints for bringing her home safe.

Now comes the hard part - she just can't do this to your family again, y'all have to do something to change her thinking.

It was just too easy for something horrible to happen to her. I work in the justice system and we see far too many beautiful girls who run away thinking they know it all . . . and wind up abused and broken and dead. She could so easily have never come home . . .

[GretchenEE]

I rejoice x infinity with you and your family.

Sometimes when I read the FR prayer requests I get a sense from the Lord about the outcome as I'm praying, and for Michelle, I felt that she was going to be restored to her family in good order (even if not timely).

I used to work with my state's juvenile parole services and I know you are right about other potential outcomes. God's angels were on the job. God bless all who prayed, and God bless your family.

[valleygal]

I have been praying for Michelle and wondering if she came home. For some reason I thought I'd lost the thread in my bookmarks.

I am so thankful she is home! Praise God. I haven't read since the other day but am going back through thread to read it.

Bless you and yours...

Take care, Ruthy.

[valleygal]

Read thread. Am so glad Michelle is home but I can't imagine what her parents and you have been through (looking through buildings, etc.).

I will continue to pray for Michelle, that she will mature into a responsible young lady and that she'll learn a valuable lesson here.

This has taught me to be more thankful and appreciative that my kids are good kids and love the Lord. I need to lighten up on them, in a BIG way.

Cate, I'm sorry for what you went through but so happy your son is doing well. The "spawn of Satan" comment was pretty funny (though I'm sure it wasn't funny at the time). :)

[Rome2000]

I saw a poster at a construction site I visited today.

I'm glad I'll be able to tell them to take it down tomorrow.

[RMDupree]

Thanks Rome2k.

:)