Residents of Fortville exhaled a collective sigh of relief today as the Fortville Police Department announced that 17-year-old Emerson Chapman, who had been reported missing since Friday, has been found safe. The community had been on alert after the initial plea for assistance was circulated via social media. The confirmation came in a brief message on the police department's Facebook page, simply stating "located and safe."
The search began after Emerson was last seen in downtown Fortville around 3:30 PM on Friday. A description of her appearance and clothing was widely distributed in hopes that someone would come forward with information. According to the Fortville Police Department’s initial post, she was reported as a runaway and it was believed she had decided to leave on her own. The department had urged anyone with information to immediately contact the Hancock County 911 Center.
The sense of urgency to quickly find Emerson was heightened by the distribution of her description: 5 feet 5 inches tall, with blonde, possibly still curly hair, blue eyes, and last seen wearing black pants with a gray "PINK" stripe, a pink shirt, and a white coat. While details about her time away are sparse, the resolution of this case serves as a reminder of the role that community and law enforcement play when a young person vanishes unexpectedly.
In the absence of further information, the Fortville Police has asked the public to respect the Chapman family's need for space and time to process the events.
