Watch CBS News

Missing Lakewood Teen With Special Needs Found Safe

LAKEWOOD (CBSLA.com) — A missing mentally impaired teen was found safe Tuesday morning after walking away from Lakewood High School one day earlier, authorities said.

Destiny Shorter, who has the mental capacity of a second grader, was located at the high school just before 8 a.m. when she showed up for class, Los Angeles County Sheriff's officials said.

She was last seen around 2:50 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

Shorter was supposed to meet with her sister after school at a bus stop, but failed to show up.

The teen told investigators that her sister had yelled at her for using a cell phone and instead of meeting her after school, Shorter went to a friend's Long Beach home and spent the night.

"It appears she believed she would be punished after being scolded by her sister for using a cellular telephone without permission, so she went home with a friend," Lt. Dan Beringer said.

Shorter was not injured.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.