Teen Who Walked Away From Home Found

May 16, 2008 — -- Missing Georgia high school student Brittany Carrigg was found this afternoon walking along a road after a good Samaritan recognized her and called police.

"She was taken by the deputy to the sheriff's office," Jim Beck, a spokesman for the Haralson County Sheriff's Office, confirmed to ABC News. "She was found to be physically in good condition, and she was reunited with her family."

Carrigg was reported missing Wednesday night by her parents after she left the house for a walk and failed to return. Authorities had said there was a chance the 17-year-old left with the intention of running away. Beck said authorities believe she spent some of the time since her disappearance with a family friend.

The investigation will continue, he said, and anyone who was knowingly hiding her from authorities during what had grown into an extensive search effort could face some type of charge for harboring her.

"Obviously, there was a lot of money spent on this search," Beck said. "The first thing she said was, 'I don't want anyone to get in trouble,' but the investigators have a job to do."

Carrigg, a volleyball player whose last day of school is one week away, has not been seen or heard from by her family since Wednesday around 9:30 p.m., when she left the house.

Carrigg's parents had been working with law enforcement and volunteers in the search effort.

A search party that included more than 100 people Thursday as well as cadaver dogs zeroed in on a 5-mile radius near the Carrigg home. Search leaders instructed personnel to look for any evidence of the teen, concentrating on drainage areas and vacant structures. They also searched a nearby pond but found "no evidence of a body."

"Obviously, you look at two things," Beck said in an interview before the girl was found. "You look at the possibility that she left the area by car or by foot. She could have only gotten so far by foot."

A helicopter searched from the air Thursday and may be used again today.

Authorities had found no evidence suggesting that foul play was involved in Carrigg's disappearance. They had spoken with her boyfriend, who was reportedly with Carrigg before she left her family's house Wednesday evening. Beck said the boyfriend has spoken to police and provided some helpful information.

"He's not a suspect in the investigation," Beck said, "but he is a guy who knows things."

Beck acknowledged the possibility that Carrigg may have left the house angry that night, perhaps even with the intention of running away.

"You're dealing with a 17-year-old and 17-year-olds occasionally have interactions with parents that get complicated," he said. "But I got the sense that this a family committed to what's best for their daughter."

J.R. McElroy, who identified himself as Carrigg's uncle, told ABC News' Atlanta affiliate WSB that the family is distraught.

"They just want her home," McElroy said. "Just pray to God that she comes home."

Beck described the county of 40,000 people, 40 miles west of Atlanta near the Alabama state border, as "close-knit."

"Neighbors have showed up en masse to assist," he said.