Search continues for Ohio State University student. What we know
Two missing woman have been found, but Columbus police remained on the lookout Wednesday for an Ohio State University student who has been missing for more than a week.
Riley O'Connell, 18, was reported missing on June 14 after she jumped over a fence at Evoke Wellness, a medical detox and residential treatment facility at 5471 Scioto Darby Road in Hilliard. She has been battling long-term mental health issues and was receiving therapy at the facility for about a month when she fled without her vital medication, according to her mother, Shaunna O'Connell, mayor of Taunton, Massachusetts.
Riley O'Connell was safely recovered between 5 and 6 p.m. Sunday in Columbus by Columbus police, Hilliard police told The Dispatch. She was taken for medical treatment to Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, according to a screenshot of information and a photograph posted by Shaunna O'Connell on Facebook.
Lori Dougherty, 64, had been reported missing around 5:30 a.m. on June 12 after last being seen at her home on the Northeast Side.
On Wednesday, Columbus police said Dougherty had been located safely.
Amina Alhaj-Omar, 25, remains missing after being reported missing on June 10 by her sister. The Ohio State University graduate student was last seen in the area of Interstate 270 and State Route 23.
Here's what we know:
Alhaj-Omar, 25, is a graduate social work student at Ohio State who was reported missing from Columbus' North Side by her sister on the evening of June 10.
Police say Alhaj-Omar is possibly experiencing a mental health crisis and is considered endangered. She is believed to be armed with two kitchen knives.
Several hours before she was reported missing June 10, Alhaj-Omar's vehicle was found abandoned on Interstate 270 between the Interstate 71 and State Route 23 exits. The vehicle showed signs of possibly being involved in a minor crash, but police said that the air bags did not deploy and there was no evidence she was injured in the crash.
Police said Alhaj-Omar was seen around 3:55 a.m. June 10 inside a BP gas station convenience store at 1091 S. High St. on the city's South Side. Video from the gas station's convenience store showed Alhaj-Omar leaving the gas station property around 6 a.m. June 10.
Lt. Jason Gardner said Wednesday during a press conference that Alhaj-Omar's behavior inside the gas station was "very unusual," but did not give additional details other than to say she had two kitchen knives with her at the time.
Just over two hours later, around 8:20 a.m. June 10, police got a call about a female trespasser at the Olen Corporation's Columbus plant and quarry at 4755 S. High St. that was later confirmed to be Alhaj-Omar. She left before police arrived.
Police conducted searches last week for Alhaj-Omar in the area where her vehicle was found, in the area of the Olen plant and quarry, and in the area of a Walmart at 3579 S. High St., where a possible, unconfirmed sighting of Alhaj-Omar was reported around 7:30 p.m. June 13. The search at the quarry included the Division of Police's dive team and search and recovery K-9s.
In addition, aerial searches by the Columbus police helicopter unit and Franklin County Sheriff's Office drones have been conducted.
Alhaj-Omar is described by police as a white female, 5-foot-2, about 135 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.
If you believe you have seen Alhaj-Omar, do not confront her, but instead call 911 or Columbus police at 614 645-2358 or 614-645-4545.
Dispatch reporter Bethany Bruner contributed to this report.
jwilhelm@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Two women found, one still missing in unrelated cases
