Nine days on the “mean streets” apparently were enough for a 15-year-old Horn Lake girl, who turned up with no apparent injury late Thursday in Memphis and was back home with her family on Friday, said police.
The case of runaway Jo Elizabeth “Joey” Randle was a happy ending to a grueling week for the family and police.
“She’s home and she’s healthy,” said Joey’s mother, Jessi Randle. “I’m exhausted and relieved.”
Meanwhile, an investigation by police in Memphis and Olive Branch was continuing. Randle said she couldn’t reveal details, but her daughter “was not in a good place and was not with good people.”
But one person was just good enough, said police.
“She had befriended somebody, and they were out walking Thursday night and this friend said, ‘You’re all over the news,’ ” said Lt. Scott Evans, detective division commander of the Horn Lake Police Department. He said the friend persuaded her to contact police.
Police found Joey at Winchester Road and Hermitage Drive west of Memphis International Airport about 10:30 p.m., Evans said.
“It all turned out well, but when for days you hear nothing… it generates concerns… You know what the mean streets are like; it’s not like it was when we were kids,” Evans said.
Said Joey’s mother: “Today we’ll be seeing doctors and shopping for counselors.”
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