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Missing Richmond teen found

CBC News, Canada
Feb. 4, 2005
vancouver.cbc.ca

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Saturday February 5, 2005

VANCOUVER – A teenage runaway who was thought to have been lured away by an internet-based satanic cult is back with her family in Richmond.

Josephine Shih vanished January 25 with nothing but the clothes on her back and $1,200 cash.An examination of the family computer showed Josephine had frequented internet sites with satanic themes.

The RCMP says it now appears the Shih left home of her own accord.

The 16-year-old was located in Vancouver around 6 o’clock Friday morning by a security guard. Chris Waddel says he had a short conversation with Shih late Thursday night when she sat next him in a downtown movie theatre. Several hours later he spotted her picture in a paper. When he realized she was the missing girl police were searching for, he went out to try and find her.Eventually he spotted the girl on Granville Street.Waddel took Shih her to a nearby Denny’s for a coffee and, after talking with her for a few minutes, called police.

On Thursday, Shih’s parents appealed to the public for help in finding their daughter.

RCMP Cpl. Peter Thiessen admits police don’t normally get this involved in teenage runaways.”We felt this may have been more than a runaway. We felt there may have been a strong possibility that she was coerced, misled or forced in some way to leave [home]. “We are seeing now that may not necessarily be the case.”Thiessen says Shih is healthy her parents are relieved to have her home.