A search for a missing North Carolina teen with autism ended Wednesday after deputies said the girl was found safe two days after she was last seen leaving her home in Columbus County. The Columbus County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the recovery late in the day, saying the 15-year-old would be checked by medical personnel before reuniting with family.
The case drew a quick, countywide response because of the teen’s age and diagnosis. Investigators said she was last seen around 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16, near a residential area dotted with woods and two-lane roads. Through Tuesday and into Wednesday morning, deputies, volunteer fire crews and neighbors searched fields and tree lines while dispatchers handled a steady flow of tips. By afternoon, officials said teams had narrowed the search to a cluster of streets not far from the home. They announced that she had been found safe before nightfall and thanked residents who checked outbuildings and shared surveillance footage. No foul play is suspected.
Deputies initially described the teen, identified as Jettie Edwards, as wearing a pink sweatshirt, blue jeans and no shoes when she was last seen. Sheriff Bill Rogers said crews canvassed wooded cut-throughs and small creeks common to the county’s neighborhoods, while investigators requested doorbell and exterior camera video from homes along likely routes. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children assisted with advisories, and surrounding agencies stood by to expand the search grid if needed. Officials said they focused on familiar paths first, a tactic that often brings quick results when youths leave home on foot in the evening hours.
Columbus County sits in southeastern North Carolina, a largely rural region where clusters of homes give way to timber stands and farm fields. Those conditions can complicate line-of-sight searches but also provide natural boundaries that help teams box in an area once credible sightings come in. Firefighters and deputies divided zones around drainage ditches and utility easements, walking shoulder to shoulder where possible and using ATVs to cover longer stretches. Neighbors reported seeing patrols stop at sheds and carports; some posted on community pages that they left porch lights on through the night in case the teen tried to make her way back.
Investigators did not provide details about where the teen was found or who discovered her, citing her age. They said medical checks were precautionary and that the priority was the teen’s well-being and the family’s privacy. Earlier advisories emphasized that the child has autism and might not respond to her name, a factor that shaped the search strategy. Deputies asked residents to call 911 with sightings rather than approach, standard practice when a missing person might be sensitive to lights, noise or unfamiliar voices.
Law enforcement described a typical rural search setup: a staging area with maps and unit logs, roving patrol cars to answer tips, and deputies knocking on doors in a widening ring from the last known point. As updates went out through regional media and social feeds, the sheriff’s office fielded calls from neighboring counties and volunteer groups offering aid. With the teen located, officials said they would debrief responders and review the timeline, including when the first call came in, the sequence of canvasses and which tips ultimately guided crews to the right spot.
Community members said the quick resolution was a relief at a busy time of year. Residents thanked first responders and volunteers in neighborhood forums and asked whether additional patrols would continue in the area overnight. The sheriff’s office said units would remain on routine duty and that the case would be closed once confirmations were complete. The agency did not announce any further investigative steps and said no criminal activity was suspected.
By Wednesday evening, deputies said the teen was safe, the search perimeter was lifted and roadblocks were cleared. Officials said a brief written update would follow after medical checks and family notifications were finished.
Author note: Last updated December 19, 2025.