Two 16-year-old boys remained missing Friday morning after walking away from the Woodsbend Youth Development Center in Morgan County the evening before, prompting Kentucky State Police to ask the public to help track them down. Matthew Wren and Charles Orr left state custody Thursday evening, and as of Friday morning, neither had been located.
According to WKYT, Wren and Orr escaped from the facility together and were last seen wearing matching navy short-sleeve T-shirts, navy sweatshirts, khaki pants, white socks and black shoes — likely the uniform issued to residents at the center. Kentucky State Police also shared the news directly, posting on X that the public was “encouraged to be on the lookout” and asked anyone who spots the pair to call 911.
Wren is from Whitley County, stands 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighs 125 pounds, and has brown hair, brown eyes, and piercings in his ears and nose, per the station's report. Orr is from Grant County, stands 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighs 142 pounds, and has brown hair and blue eyes, with tattoos covering areas of his hands, arms, stomach and legs, the outlet noted. Anyone with knowledge of their whereabouts was asked to call KSP Post 8 at (606) 784-4127.
Sheriff Says Agencies Working Together to Find the Pair
As Fox 56 reported, Morgan County Sheriff Greg Motley confirmed that as of Friday morning, neither teen had been found. “We are working with the Woodsbend staff and Kentucky State Police to locate them,” Motley said. Local officials advised Morgan County residents to lock their doors and windows while the search continued, and anyone with information about the pair's whereabouts was asked to call 911.
The Woodsbend Youth Development Center is operated by the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice and serves as a residential treatment and rehabilitation facility for court-committed youth, according to the Fox 56 report. It is not the first time residents near the Morgan County facility have been asked to stay alert for juveniles who left on their own.
A Similar Scare Played Out in 2023
Back in May 2023, WYMT reported that three juveniles walked away from the same Woodsbend facility on a Monday night, triggering a similar search. In that earlier case, police asked nearby residents to make sure their cars were locked and to report any suspicious activity, and the public was told to call 911 or Morgan County Dispatch at 606-743-4385 with any information.
No update on Wren and Orr's location had been reported as of Friday morning. Kentucky State Police's social media post directing the public to call 911 if either teen is spotted remains the agency's most recent public statement on the search.
