UNC football player, friends find missing child and help reunite her with family

Jul. 7—Fireworks, food and other activities were likely on the minds of most residents this July 4. A group of students from the University of Northern Colorado, however, were busy helping law enforcement reunite a young girl with her family.

The girl, 12, was reported missing from her home at Hill-N-Park. She is autistic and has a history of running away, according to the initial report from the Weld County Sheriff's Office.

Jasiah Snow-Marshall, a redshirt freshman defensive back on the UNC football team, said he and a group of friends went to a local park to watch fireworks after leaving the Greeley Stampede.

"At first, I didn't know what the actual situation was. I feel like anybody, any good human, would have done it," Snow-Marshall said. "Being in that position where me and my friends were able to help felt good. I think that girl's safety and getting home was more of a priority than having fun and just being able to find the right people to help her was our goal."

His friends were on the swings and some wanted to go down the slide when they thought a man was hiding on it. Snow-Marshall went over and saw it wasn't an adult but a young girl.

The women who were with Snow-Marshall work with children and helped speak with her. They helped keep her calm and prevented her from leaving, as the others in the group looked for resources. He said they work with children and worked to make her feel comfortable with them.

Snow-Marshall said there was confusion with her story, about her family and how she got to the park. The girl claimed she wanted to be placed in foster care. The group looked for a children's shelter but was unable to connect with anyone and contacted Greeley police.

"We just coordinated with the police to try to get the story right, try to get her back home, find out where she lives and find out who she is," Snow-Marshall said.

Snow-Marshall said it felt good to find out they had been able to help her. They didn't know she had been reported missing and weren't on the lookout.

Still, the sheriff's office said it relies on residents to help with its investigations and notes the importance of community participation.

"One of the few good things about social media is it allows us to get information out to a lot of people quickly," WCSO spokesperson Joe Moylan said in an email. "In my short time with the sheriff's office, there have been numerous occasions when we've solved a case based off of a tip we received because of a social media post or by spreading information through the traditional news media. Being able to get information out to the public through those channels certainly helped in this case."

The group does not have contact with the child anymore, but Snow-Marshall has thought about her in the few days since. Due to her history, he has wondered if she'd make it home safely or come in contact with people who will help if she's in this position again.

"Those things kind of cross my mind," Snow-Marshall said. "Hopefully, she doesn't (run away) and the situation doesn't happen again."

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What to do

Advice for guardians

* Monitor children's online activity and who they talk to.

* Know your child's habits, routines and patterns.

* Pay attention to possible behavioral changes and areas of stress.

* Set up tracking apps on your child's devices, such as Find My iPhone.

* Check with friends, family and other trusted adults, if you are unable to locate your child.

* Look for them at places they go regularly, including school, local businesses and parks.

* Call 911.

* Make note of the last time they were seen, what they were wearing, any behavioral concerns, potential reasons for being upset or stressed.

If you encounter a lost child

* Contact security or a manager, if applicable. Otherwise, contact law enforcement.

* Remain calm. For Snow-Marshall and his friends, they wanted to ensure the child did not run off again.

* Ask if they know the phone number of a trusted adult in their life.

* Do not move the child. Their parent or guardian may come looking for them, especially if it is a common location.

Tips are from WCSO and Missing Kids, a nonprofit that seeks to reunite children with their families.

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