Multiple law enforcement agencies searched Thursday for a Casper teenager who failed to come home from school a day earlier and was believed to be traveling with an older man.
Police suspect Gracelyn Pratt, 14, left with James Martin, a 36-year-old man described by officials as a family acquaintance.
Pratt attended school on Wednesday, but did not return afterward. On Thursday, authorities issued an Amber Alert in an effort to find her.
“We’re working with multiple law enforcement agencies. The FBI is helping us out as well,” said Casper Police Lt. Jeff Bullard. “We have lots of boots on the ground and lots of resources we are tapping trying to track them down right now.”
The Amber Alert prompted a broad response from Wyoming. Bullard said police had been receiving calls from around the state. But they have not heard from Pratt.
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“She’s gone radio silent,” he said.
After Pratt failed to come home after school Wednesday, police took a runaway report and assigned a detective to the case.
An investigation found Pratt had been communicating for a some time with Martin. Detectives learned that Martin and Pratt had been seen together in the days leading up to her not returning from school, police said.
Investigators don’t know where the two are headed, Casper Police Lt. Jeremy Tremel told the Star-Tribune. They do know Pratt attended school on Wednesday before disappearing.
Tremel said he could not comment on the reasons why Pratt may have run away from home with Martin. They have known each other for quite some time, he said.
According to a Wednesday evening Facebook post by a woman who identified herself as the girl’s mother, Pratt skipped school that day and may have been picked up by Martin. She said the pair may have been heading toward Cody or Devils Tower.
Sighting have been reported outside Wyoming as well.
A resident in Billings contacted law enforcement with a possible sighting Thursday, Montana Highway Patrol Sgt. Jay Nelson said. While law enforcement in Yellowstone and Big Horn counties, along with Montanan Highway Patrol have been given notice of the sighting, none have been able to confirm that Pratt or Martin are in the area.
Pratt is described as 5 foot 1 inches tall, weighing 109 pounds, with blue eyes and blonde hair, according to the alert. She was wearing a black zip-up jacket with a white undershirt, black leggings and brown knee-high boots.
Martin is 5 foot 10 inches tall and weighs between 260 and 300 pounds. He was last seen driving a black Ford F-150 four-door pickup with Wyoming truck plates 1-36929. The truck has a lift kit and Star Wars stick figures in the back.
Anyone with information should contact the Casper Police Department at 307-235-8278 or call 911.