Oakville Teen Who Was Missing is Found After Six Days
Alexis Diani, 15, who was reported missing from Oakville High School last week, has been reunited with her family.
- By Lindsay Toler
- Email the author
- February 11, 2013
The Oakville teen whose six-day runaway from home was shared by thousands of concerned people on Facebook has reunited with her family.
Alexis Diani, 15, was at a friend’s home in the Butler Hill subdivision when a parent saw her and tipped of Alexis’ family, said Alexis’ stepfather Ricky Fredrick. The family called police, who helped Alexis and her family come back together.
Alexis disappeared Feb. 6 at Oakville High School. Her mother, Cassie Richard, posted on Facebook for friends to look for her daughter, and thousands of people shared her photo and description.
Fredrick said they’d been out all day searching for Alexis when they heard she’d been found.
Alexis also ran away in January, family said, but she was quickly found.
See below for the previous version of this Patch story, as of 7:45 p.m. 2/11/13.
Alexis Diani—the 15-year-old daughter of Cassie Richard—has been missing since Feb. 6, when she was last seen at Oakville High School.
The St. Louis County Police South County Precinct said Alexis is still missing since Feb. 6. Alexis is a white female, 5'2", 120 pounds, police said. She has brown hair and eyes.
Ricky Fredrick, Richard's fiance, said the family is sure Alexis is safe but is searching for her after she ran away.
"We'll find her," Fredrick said. "She wasn't taken or anything like that. She's just a 15 year old teenager who thinks she can rule the world."
Thousands of people on Facebook shared information about Alexis going missing after her mother, Cassie Richard, posted a photo and details.
Alexis was also reported missing in January, police said, but she was returned to her family and the incident is not considered suspicious.
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Debbie Olvera
2:33 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
Come home Alexis. Praying for a safe return.
Julie Sedwick Shawcross
5:54 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
Alexis... your Mom loves you dearly! Please go home or call and her and let her know you are okay.
A winch
6:45 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
I find it kinda strange that your fiance says "She wasnt taken or anything..shes just a teenager who thinks she rules the world" Really asshole? Im sure she is gonna run right home after seeing that remark! How about saying " Her family really misses her and loves her and wants her to be safe"!!
Cassie Richard
5:20 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
This is Alexis' mother and I would like to thank everyone for the tremendous support we received from family, friends and the entire community. We were so moved by the sincere and genuine concern of so many then we are blessed with the hasty, nasty and uninformed judgements presented by a couple of perfect persons on this page. We will not allow the ignorance of a few outshine the greatness of a bunch. Noone asked for the help of the rude commenters on this matter. It was with the love and support of people that truly know and care for Alexis and our family that we were able to bring her home. Thanks to you all: )
Cassie Richard
5:21 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
We will be sure to contact "a winch" for advice on the appropriate response when you or your family is invovled in this kind of situation.
David Perry Shipp
6:49 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
Im a security officer at South County mall & I've been trying to keep my eye out for her too.I even saw a girl that looked alot like her yesterday,but when I got over to where she was,she was gone.It was really busy.
Hannah
7:14 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
Alexis you know what happened the first time .....me and everyone else miss you and not responding to my text ....please call your mom and tell her your fine
muehlhausers
7:40 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Awesome that she was found and was safe.
jan
9:25 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
What is going on at home that she keep running away? This is the second time she has "went missing" Hopefully her and her family can resolve whatever it is that she has to keep running away, and she realizes running away isn't going to make the problem go away. Thank goodness that she came home safely.
Cassie Richard
5:20 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
This is Alexis' mother and I would like to thank everyone for the tremendous support we received from family, friends and the entire community. We were so moved by the sincere and genuine concern of so many then we are blessed with the hasty, nasty and uninformed judgements presented by a couple of perfect persons on this page. We will not allow the ignorance of a few outshine the greatness of a bunch. Noone asked for the help of the rude commenters on this matter. It was with the love and support of people that truly know and care for Alexis and our family that we were able to bring her home. Thanks to you all: )
Anie Crose
9:39 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
I agree with you Jan. She got the attention she was seeking from her cry for help. I hope they get her the proper help and figure out what's going on.
Kim fridley
10:03 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
@awinch name calling is inappropriate. As a person close to the family Ricky is nothing but loving and supportive and u font know what she's put them through. If you don't have anything positive or helpful to say keep your vulgar options to yourself!!!!
Lisa Burke
10:09 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
I think name name calling is out line, especially when you don't know the individual or love he has Alexis.. People are to quick to place blame. Alexis is loved by her family without a doubt and sometime kids get lost or fall into the wrong crowd. I am glad Alexis is with family the people who truely care about her well being and BIG thank you to the person who stepped and did the right thing.
Bette J Glynn
11:19 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Cry Wolf again and no one will look for you, while you are out having fun with your friends everyone is looking for you??????
Anie Crose
11:58 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Exactly. She won this attention seeking game. I hope she gets the help she needs and this doesn't happen again. It would be terribly unfortunate if it did and something really did happen to her because there are not a lot of people in the community who would look for her again. The cry wolf bridge burns pretty quickly so be careful. Someday it might not be there when you try to cross back over it.
Bette J Glynn
1:21 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Thamk you Anie, said much better than I did. You are correct, too many times and no one believes that it is important to be concerned any more because she is just hanging out with friends.
Lisa Burke
2:47 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Wow I cannot believe the comments some of you are posting. This is a teenager and yes maybe on the wrong path, but as parent of a teenager I would do anything I could do to help regardless of how many times. As for the help she may need, her mother has reached out asking for this and to the misfortune of our system she has limited resources. I am glad that my friend has the support from friends and family and we continue to support regardless if someone crying wolf...
Kim fridley
3:20 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
I AM SURE YOU ARE PERFECT PARENTS ANIE AND BETTE AND FOR THAT I COMEND YOU! HOW DO YOU DO IT? This litte girl has some problems and if you want to call it "hanging with friends" that ridiculous! You based your negative comments off of one paragraph about a troubled little girl who is in great need of help. We don't want Alexis to become a statistic like so many others so if that means we look for her 12 times then thats what we do. If you don't like it you can keep your uninformed comments for the hollywood gossip page!!!
cassie richard
4:15 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
This is Alexis' mother and I would like to thank everyone for the tremendous support we received from family, friends and the entire community. We were so moved by the sincere and genuine concern of so many then we are blessed with the hasty, nasty and uninformed judgements presented by a couple of perfect persons on this page. We will not allow the ignorance of a few outshine the greatness of a bunch. Noone asked for the help of the rude commenters on this matter. It was with the love and support of people that truly know and care for Alexis and our family that we were able to bring her home. Thanks to you all: )
Anie Crose
9:07 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
I have never claimed to be perfect nor did I attack the parenting of anyone, as some of you have done. But as someone who has been through it, I was speaking from my experience. I have been there, done that, and I have learned a tremendous amount from it. If my saying she is in need of some help offends anyone, so be it. Nobody runs away and is perfectly stable frame of mind, that's just fact. There is NO shame in it. Seeking help is not a bad thing, yet somehow you say those magic words and people assume you're calling said person a criminal or something. I am glad this young lady was found and I am glad she is ok. I do hope however, that she and her family seek the help that she may need so that they can put this in the past and hopefully she'll learn from it.
Bobby
10:44 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
She needs professional counseling big time
Bobby
10:48 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Parents need to do a better job of watching their kids. They also need discipline which most kids don't have.
K Ann
11:04 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
I am a mother of six and have had similar issues with a child. If it were as simple as discipline, or a shoulder to cry on, all our lives as teenagers and parents of teenagers would be simple, sweet, accepting. I pray for Alexis' family and friends, and for you Alexis. Being a teenager is hard.
football parent
7:54 am on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
I am so happy that she is home safe! I am a parent of 3 here in Oakville and 2 of them are teens. They both know her and we have all been concerned. I have prayed and will continue to pray! I know first hand how scary it is not to have your children safe at home in their beds at night. Alexis if you are reading these posts Im sure your overwhelmed with what everyone has to say and everyone will hav their own opinions so be careful and know that some of these people do not know you or your family! They have no right to pass judgement! Whatever is causing you to make the decision to leave the safe haven of your home is no ones business but yours, your family and close friends but please keep in mind that your home is where you are safe. Your parents are ones that will love you most and take care of you better than anyone out there! There isn't anything that you can't talk to your parents about! They will be the ones to keep your best interests in mind and never lead you wrong. Hang in there and please please remember running away from your problems is never the answer!
Thank god she is home safe!!
Kelly
4:12 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
I know a GREAT counselor/therapist that was put on this earth to help others. I seriously can not recommend her enough. www.morgancounselingservices.com She is right behind the Library on Lindbergh. My heart goes out to the family. It's a tough world for kids to live in these days.