Kentucky Girl, 18, Missing After Suspicious Couch Fire
The family of Brookelyn Farthing, the missing 18-year-old Kentucky girl, warned today that "if someone's got her … it's God that's going to deal with you," while police said they are still holding out hope that the girl could have dropped out of sight of her own free will.
Farthing was reported missing early Saturday after a couch fire ignited at the home where she was said to have been visiting. The couch was completely consumed as well as the floor beneath it, according Kentucky State Police spokesman Trooper Paul Blanton.
Police are still unsure if the fire had anything to do with Farthing's disappearance, but it is being investigated as suspicious, he said.
Farthing's family told ABC News affiliate WTQV-TV in Lexington, Ky., that they just want to see their daughter come back home.
"I want God's will to be done, and I want Brooke found, and I think it's God's will that Brooke be found," said Farthing's father, Randal Walker. "It's not just us, if someone's got her, it's not just us that you're going to have to pay, it's God that's going to deal with you."
Farthing's family told WTQV that the home was occupied by a male friend of her ex-boyfriend. The home did not have electricity for a couple of weeks, according to the police.
"Our arson investigators say it's not common for a fire to start without electricity. It's usually from an electrical short or a lamp that fell over," Blanton said. "But it doesn't make any sense that the fire would start the way it did happen. We're still looking at it as being suspicious."
Blanton said investigators had questioned the owner of the home, but did not have a suspect or person of interest at this time.
Farthing's family said all of her belongings were still at the home, including a packed bag. The only item missing was her cell phone, which Walker said is still ringing when called, but no one will answer. They have been unable to track the phone, her family said.
"By the fact that her personal property was still at the house, it makes you believe she is possibly in danger," Blanton said.
But Blanton said he hopes Farthing is missing because she wants to be missing.
"We've had people, once we found them, they say, 'Hey, I chose to not be in contact with those people,' and we've had ones that turn into homicide," Blanton said.
State police are asking for anyone with information to contact them. Blanton also said they'd like to hear from Farthing, even if she doesn't want her family to know where she is.
"She's 18, it's up to her whether she wants to have contact or not, she can just contact us and let us know she's OK," Blanton said.
Farthing is described as 5 foot, 1 inch tall, with blond hair and brown eyes.