A 16-year-old Amish teenager has been missing since Friday evening after walking away from a mental health facility in Lebanon County, and his family is now scrambling to cover the rising cost of the search. Jonas Smucker was last seen around 6:30 p.m. wearing a green shirt and black pants, and as of this week, investigators still don't know which direction he went.
Smucker was last seen leaving Green Pastures, a WellSpan Philhaven mental health facility at 283 South Butler Road, according to the Cornwall Borough Police Department, as reported by abc27.com. He's described as a white male standing 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighing approximately 160 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, per DailyVoice.com. Investigators believe he may be headed toward family in New Holland, Lancaster County, or toward his home in Dornsife, Northumberland County, though his actual route remains unconfirmed.
Family Turns to Fundraising to Fund the Search
With no clear leads on which way Smucker traveled, his family has launched a GoFundMe to help cover mounting search costs. The campaign, organized by Jonas Stoltzfus, had raised $7,966 toward its $16,000 goal from 42 donations as of Monday, Nov. 9, according to the same DailyVoice.com report. The fundraiser identifies the teenager's parents as Amos and Liz Smucker.
Stoltzfus said the money supports the search party looking for his nephew and efforts to bring him home. He said expenses are climbing fast, especially for drone operation, feeding volunteers, and travel costs tied to the search effort, according to the report.
What Authorities Have — and Haven't — Said
Police have not released additional information about the circumstances surrounding Smucker's disappearance, and they have not determined which direction he traveled after leaving the facility, the outlet's report notes. No further details about the search area or timeline have been made public.
Anyone who sees Jonas Smucker or has information about his whereabouts is asked to contact Lebanon County dispatch at 717-272-2054 or notify their local law enforcement agency, authorities said. For a Amish teenager from a tight-knit community now spread across two counties' worth of possible destinations, every tip could matter.
