Missing Teen: Madison Fields, 16, Last Seen in Colerain Township | WLWT

Colerain Township police in Ohio are seeking the public’s assistance in locating 16-year-old Madison Fields, who has been missing since February 13. The case was upgraded to an endangered missing juvenile alert by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office on Friday, though police briefly retracted an initial statement characterizing Fields as endangered.

Fields was last seen at approximately 4:00 PM on February 13, leaving an Extended Stay Hotel on Colerain Avenue, where her family is currently residing. Surveillance footage captured her walking west on Harry Lee Avenue, carrying a Nike backpack and a plastic grocery bag. She was reportedly wearing a black “Champion” hooded sweatshirt, camouflage pants and black shoes.

The disappearance has prompted a growing sense of urgency and concern among family and friends. Tyler Hirn, Fields’ father, described the last six days as “the hardest of our lives” and stated he has been unable to sleep while searching for his daughter. He has cooperated fully with law enforcement, providing them with Fields’ old mobile phones in an effort to aid the investigation.

According to family members, Fields had been communicating with an 18-year-old male named Josh through an encrypted messaging application called Session. This app is notable for its feature of automatically deleting messages after they are sent, potentially complicating efforts to trace their communications. Fields reportedly told her younger sister she was meeting Josh on the day she disappeared.

The initial police response has drawn some criticism from the family, who felt the urgency of the situation was initially downplayed. Colerain Police initially stated they did not believe Fields was in danger and had not requested an endangered missing child alert. However, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office subsequently issued the alert on Friday, describing Fields as “a missing or abducted child.” The department later clarified its initial statement, stating Fields was only considered a missing teen.

Friends of Fields have described her behavior in the days leading up to her disappearance as unusual. They noted she spent the entire day in the bathroom at Colerain High School on Friday, February 13, skipping classes and exhibiting a mix of sadness and happiness that they had not previously observed. This atypical behavior has heightened concerns about her well-being.

The family has been actively distributing flyers and sharing information with the public in an attempt to locate Fields. Kathy Owens, Fields’ grandmother, made a public plea for help, saying, “Please help us. Whoever’s out there, Maddy if you’re watching, Mamaw loves you and I promise you, we’re going to find you.”

Colerain Township Police are urging anyone with information regarding Fields’ whereabouts to submit tips through their digital tip line or by calling 513-321-COPS (2677). The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are continuing to follow all available leads.

The use of encrypted messaging apps like Session in cases involving missing teenagers raises broader concerns about online safety and the challenges law enforcement faces in investigating communications on such platforms. The app’s self-deleting message feature presents a significant obstacle to gathering evidence and understanding the nature of Fields’ interactions with Josh.

The case also highlights the vulnerability of young people to online interactions with strangers. Fields’ father was reportedly unaware of her communication with Josh until after she went missing, underscoring the importance of parental awareness and open communication about online activities. The family’s insistence that this behavior is out of character for Fields adds to the concern that she may be in a dangerous situation.