Monday 14 December 2020

Missing 15-year-old girl is found dead in Nevada two weeks after she and her friend ran away from their Ohio homes with a 19-year-old man and fled to California

 A desperate search for two teenage girls who ran away from their home in Ohio over Thanksgiving has ended after one was found dead in Nevada and the other was found safe in California

Kathryn McGuire and Haylie Vance, both 15, were reported missing in Painesville, Ohio, on November 26.

Haylie was located in Long Beach, California, on December 4, the Painesville Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Saturday. 

Kathryn was found four days later on December 8 in Henderson, Nevada, where she was transported to a hospital and pronounced dead. 

Haylie told investigators she and Kathryn left home voluntarily to drive to California with a 19-year-old Painesville man named Aaron Larkin, who had also been reported missing, police said. 

Larkin, whose relationship with the girls remains unclear, was with Kathryn in Henderson and is now being held in police custody pending the investigation into her death. He is not facing any charges as of Sunday afternoon.  

Kathryn McGuire (pictured) and Haylie Vance, both 15, ran away from their homes in Painesville, Ohio, on November 26
Haylie (pictured) was found safe in Long Beach, California, on December 4, and Kathryn was found dead in Henderson, Nevada, on December 8

Kathryn McGuire (left) and Haylie Vance (right), both 15, ran away from their homes in Painesville, Ohio, on November 26. Haylie was found safe in Long Beach, California, on December 4, and Kathryn was found dead in Henderson, Nevada, on December 8

The Clark County Coroner's Office in Nevada is expected to release details about Kathryn's cause of death on Monday, WOIO-TV reported. 

Kathryn's mother revealed that her daughter suffered from a heart condition in a string of Facebook posts begging for the teen's safe return. 

Aaron Larkin (pictured) is in police custody pending an investigation into Kathryn's death

Aaron Larkin (pictured) is in police custody pending an investigation into Kathryn's death

In one post on December 2 the mother wrote: 'I am hoping Katie See's this somehow. Come home baby. I miss you so much. Come home to your own bed. I will buy you as many Takyis as you want. I am afraid ur not eating. You need your heart medicine. 

'We have you guys missing in national registry. They are looking for you all over United States. You guys will get pulled over and taken in. It would be so much better if you guys just came home. 

'I can come get u no matter where you are. I can fly, drive. I just need you!!!It's like I am in a nightmare...plz help me baby!'

Kathryn's sister also pleaded for her and her travel partners to come home, writing: 'All 3 of these people have families, and they all want them home!!! 

'There is no bad guy in this situation, they all went willingly. Please don’t forget that all of these people have families who care about them. 

'Aaron, Katie, and Haylie please come home, you guys are making the situation worse by staying away longer!' 


Kathryn's mother and sister posted numerous pleas for her safe return on Facebook. The sister pictured with Kathryn, left) confirmed her death on December 10

Kathryn's mother and sister posted numerous pleas for her safe return on Facebook. The sister pictured with Kathryn, left) confirmed her death on December 10 

Police offered a timeline of the trio's disappearance in Saturday's Facebook post, beginning when Larkin left the apartment he shared with his sister in Willoughby at around 7.30am on Thanksgiving.  

Haylie left her home at about 3.30pm the same day to visit a friend who lived a few streets away. 

Kathryn was picked up from her home between 3.30 and 4pm to go visit Haylie, police said. 

Kathryn's family reported her missing on the night of November 26. 

Haylie and Larkin were reported missing the next day. 

Kathryn and Haylie's relationship with Larkin (pictured) remains unclear

Kathryn and Haylie's relationship with Larkin (pictured) remains unclear 

Painesville police launched an investigation with assistance from the US Marshals Service and multiple other police departments Northeast Ohio. 

The Long Beach Police Department and Henderson Police Department joined the probe after Haylie was found in the former jurisdiction and Kathryn and Larkin were found in the latter. 

Painesville police said they were informed on December 8 that a female believed to be Kathryn had been checked into Dignity Health Saint Rose Hospital in Henderson, where she was pronounced dead.   

It remains unclear how Haylie was separated from Kathryn and Larkin after the trio spent six days together in California, police said.  

The investigation is ongoing and authorities have asked anyone with information to contact Painesville police at 440-392-5840.  

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