Caitlin Craig Missing in Golden CO

Thank you so much for joining and sharing additional details gratefulhoo, it is very much appreciated. My sincerest apologies if my comments seemed cold and uncaring, that is certainly not the case. I work closely with a local organization, JOY International , which rescues girls from the sex slave trade worldwide and they've seen every type of situation you can imagine, and some you can't:

-Relatives selling their daughter's/niece's virginity, or selling them outright, merely for money, or to feed younger siblings who are starving.

-Girls who are preyed upon after posting innocently on social media that they've had a fight with their parents and want to run away and some "helpful" lady asks if she can help, befriends the girl, then turns her over to her pimp once they meet up.

-Families who are sold on the idea that this "organization" that contacts them about helping their daughters get an education, and will pay for her travel and room/board, even show them pictures of a "school", and convince the family to send their daughter to them. They think they are doing something good, sending their daughter off to make a better life for herself than they've had, only to never hear from their daughter again because she's been shoved into a shipping container with 90 other girls and sent to countries where police corruption is rampant and turns a blind eye to the brothels that are a dime a dozen.

The scenarios above are ones from foreign countries that have actually happened, and I'm sharing them not to scare you that this could happen to Caitlin, but to highlight that there many different ways in which kids are tricked into leaving the safety of their homes, and sometimes by the ones they trust and love who should be keeping them safe but aren't. The statistics are that within 24 hours of running away, a kid is highly likely to be approached by a pimp and tricked or forced into prostitution (they are drugged and/or raped, and then shamed into not being able to go back home, or threatened with harm to their families if they try to leave), and the sad fact is that many of those who run away do so to get away from an abusive relationship at home. More tragically is that those who could return home to a safe and loving family won't because they are afraid of their pimps hurting their loved ones, or of how they would be treated by their families after what happened to them (kids don't understand how much we love them and would give anything to have them back and help them heal).

When I made that statement about the possibility of abuse, it wasn't to be accusing toward Caitlin's family, but to highlight the reality of many kids' situations. I'm very glad to hear that is not the case with Caitlin.

With all that above in mind, that is also why it is critical that missing kids are searched for as quickly and as intensively as possible. That's why I disagreed with the Jeffco Sheriff's office in not putting out an Amber Alert - I think all missing kids, whether runaway from abuse, or kidnapped out of their bedrooms, should be treated with the same urgency, because what can happen to them once they are unprotected and alone can be far, far worse (not trying to scare you, but again, it is possible). Once found, then it can be sorted out whether they can be returned to a loving home, or placed elsewhere away from abusers. I understand why their hands are tied currently with her current guardian, her mother, not cooperating, but I think there needs to be a change in the laws. JMO.

I will continue to keep my fingers crossed, and hope for Caitlin to be found safe and soon. As HappyCamper asked, please do keep us posted if you hear anything!

Great news! Caitlin has been found!

Posted on her grandmother's Facebook page 18 minutes ago:
UPDATE: Caitlin and Michael were found and are in police custody. It seems that they ran out of gas in the area of Hinsdale County and were staying in someone's house who was not at home. The owner who was out of town came home and found them there. Michael Long is currently in Jail and Caitlin is in Juvenile detention. Do not know what will happen at this point but wanted to let everyone know that they had been found. Thanks to everyone who has been helping to locate her - I appreciate it more than words can say.