Eaton teen is found; investigation continues
EATON, Ind. — After eight days, a missing teenager was back in Eaton on Friday night, alive and reportedly well.
Details of the events leading to 14-year-old Scottie Dean Morris' return were not immediately available.
At 10:58 p.m., Eaton police posted on Facebook that "Scottie has been located and found safe!'
"Medics are checking him out right now and we will be conducting interviews."
About 11:30 p.m., Eaton Police Chief Jay Turner told The Star Press that Scottie would be taken to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie "to be checked out head to toe."
"He appears to be OK," the chief said.
Turner said he could not yet confirm details of how the teen was found by an Eaton officer, about 10:30 p.m. at Harford and Harris streets.
The teen was reportedly speaking with his mother as the officer approached them.
The chief said he anticipated interviews would be conducted through the night.
About 3 a.m. Saturday, however, the chief said his department had worked with the Indiana Department of Child Services and that "Scottie has been placed in another home for the evening."
Turner said interviews would be resuming later in the day.
"The family is cooperating with every aspect of the investigation," the chief said in a later release.
Scottie was reported missing on the evening of March 16 after walking away from his family's Indiana Avenue home.
Eaton teen:Timeline of 14-year-old's disappearance
Large parties of searchers combed Eaton and the surrounding area last Friday, Saturday and Monday.
Eaton police continued to follow up on leads through the week.
On Thursday, hundreds of residents — from Eaton and other East Central Indiana communities — gathered at a local church for a candlelight vigil and a march to a local park, where they prayed for the boy's safe return.
A statewide Silver Alert — issued for Morris at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 17 — was canceled on Saturday morning.
Saturday evening, Turner issued a statement indicating Eaton officers and Delaware County sheriff's deputies "have been conducting interviews most of the day.
"There were two individuals brought in for questioning," the chief said. "However, they have since been cleared of involvement with any part of this case."
Turner said the Department of Child Services was "assisting Scottie," and again said "the family is continuing to cooperate with every aspect of the investigation."
Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Eaton teen is found; investigation continues