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🚨 ARIZONA AUTHORITIES INTENSIFY SEARCH
Missing Teen Maria Acedo Found Safe After Turquoise Alert Issued
17-Year-Old Disappeared After Leaving Cibola High School in Yuma
YUMA, ARIZONA (AZFamily): Authorities confirmed Wednesday that Maria Acedo, a 17-year-old Native American teenager who had been reported missing for two weeks, has been found safe. Her disappearance led to the issuance of a Turquoise Alert, prompting widespread concern across Arizona.
According to the Yuma Police Department, Maria Acedo was last seen walking away from Cibola High School around 4 p.m. on December 2. She never returned home, and family members reported that she did not have her usual cellphone with her at the time.
Police did not disclose where Maria was located but confirmed that she was found on Wednesday. In a statement posted on social media, the department thanked the public for their assistance during the search.
"Thank you to our amazing and proactive community for your assistance," the Yuma Police Department said.
Maria’s disappearance prompted officials to issue a Turquoise Alert, a relatively new system designed to help locate missing persons, particularly members of the Indigenous community. The alert applies to individuals from childhood through age 65 who are missing under unknown circumstances.
The alert system was created following the death of Emily Pike, a San Carlos Apache tribal member, and aims to address gaps not covered by traditional Amber Alerts.
Unlike an Amber Alert, which is issued in confirmed abduction cases, a Turquoise Alert is used when a person is missing under unclear or concerning circumstances, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
🕊️ Authorities have not released further details about where Maria Acedo was found.
Officials continue encouraging community awareness and cooperation in missing person cases across Arizona.
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