Sophie Barker, a 17-year-old teenager who went missing near Wall Street on Thursday, was found safe late Friday afternoon. The finding was made at the East Broadway Seward Park Library. Right now, nothing is known about her condition.
With a mental illness, Barker was last seen on Thursday morning at around 10:30 when she went to get a matcha drink from her father's apartment in the Financial District. At home, her phone was left to charge. Her family were increasingly concerned because Barker is known to need medicine for her health issue.
Sophie's mother, Saida Barker, said that her daughter had left the apartment without her phone. She was last seen near the junction of Wall Street and William. Her parents were concerned that she may be facing a medical emergency and be confused as a result of not taking her medicine.
A large communal effort went toward finding Sophie. There were fliers everywhere in the downtown area, and many of people were scouting the streets for her. Saida Barker gave the New York Police Department (NYPD) and the community's support credit for the case's successful conclusion.
The hunt gained momentum when the security guard at Seward Park Library identified Sophie based on an all-points notice and reported her whereabouts. Detectives from the First Precinct arrived right away and used FaceTime with her stepfather to confirm her identification. Officers from the Seventh Precinct helped EMS personnel, who then took Sophie to an ambulance.
Sophie may have chosen to seek safety in the Seward Park Library since a family friend had said that she loved libraries. The community, the NYPD, and the library personnel worked together to locate Sophie Barker and make sure she returned safely.