Parents Feared The Worst After Teen’s 7-Week Disappearance

KENT COUNTY, MI – A seven-week-long nightmare transformed into an odd relief for Mishael and David Wise, parents of 17-year-old Penelope “Penny” Wise. The teen, who had been missing from her Cedar Springs home since May 31, was found safe on Sunday, July 21. The joy of her return, however, is tainted with confusion and worry about the circumstances surrounding her mysterious disappearance.

Unexpected Discovery

The surreal turning point came when a local resident recognized Penny and alerted the authorities. The distressed parents were informed that their daughter had been found alive, safe, and seemingly unharmed. “It was surreal, relief, to find out she was OK,” Mishael told reporters immediately following the announcement.

Penny, who had run away from home after an argument, wasn’t discovered in predictable circumstances. According to police reports, she had met with a 44-year-old Rockford man – a complete stranger – early in the morning after her departure, moved in with him, and subsequently became engaged. The teenager was found only after she left the man’s residence on a bicycle.

A Parents’ Nightmare

Penny’s disappearance had triggered an extensive search operation involving the Sheriff’s Office and other police agencies. Images from surveillance cameras ensued, showing the teen in downtown Rockford on the night she fled her home. Despite relentless efforts, the teenager’s location remained a mystery, keeping her parents in agony.

A Bittersweet Return

The teenager has not yet been united with her parents. Following her discovery, she was taken to the Kent County Juvenile Detention Center as investigations are still ongoing, said Sgt. Kailey Gilbert of the Kent County’s Sheriff’s Office. Meanwhile, no charges have been filed against the 44-year-old man involved with the teenager. According to Prosecutor Chris Becker, charges of harboring a runaway, or contributing to the delinquency of a minor only apply if the minor involved is under 16. Similarly, custodial interference charges only apply to parents, not strangers.

“So there simply are no criminal charges that apply,” Becker announced.

Mishael expressed bafflement at the engagement between her daughter and the unknown middle-aged man, adding that the man was a “complete stranger as far as we’re concerned.” She reiterated her desire to be reunited with her daughter, despite the puzzling circumstances around her disappearance. “It was not an easy seven weeks to say the least but it [could have been] very different, no doubt about that.”

A Time for Healing

While relieved with her daughter’s safe return, Mishael reflected on the tormenting weeks of uncertainty and thanked the law enforcement and those who sought to locate Penny. She also expressed gratitude for the support and prayers from the community. Despite their daughter’s engagement to a stranger and ongoing worry, the Wise family is now focused on healing. “We had the worst of things, the worst-case scenario, going through our minds. I’m thankful we were wrong and able to get her back,” Mishael admitted.