The recent case of the missing 17-year-old from Owatonna who was found safe after disappearing for over a week highlights a troubling pattern in how we approach missing children cases in America. While the positive outcome deserves celebration, the brevity of the reporting—barely 50 words—reflects a systemic problem in how these cases are handled in both media coverage and public consciousness.
When children go missing, particularly teenagers, our collective response often follows a predictable pattern: initial concern, limited coverage, and then quick closure once they’re found. This approach fails to address the underlying causes that lead to disappearances and provides little preventive value for future cases.
Missing Teen Cases Deserve More Than Footnote Coverage
The reporting on this Owatonna teen’s disappearance exemplifies the minimal attention these cases typically receive. Compare this to how missing persons cases involving certain demographics receive wall-to-wall coverage. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reports that approximately 400,000 children go missing in the United States annually, yet only a tiny fraction receive significant media attention.
This disparity in coverage isn’t just a media failure—it’s a societal one. When the Minneapolis Star Tribune devoted extensive coverage to the disappearance of a college student in 2019, the public response was immediate and overwhelming. Search parties formed, resources mobilized, and awareness spread. Meanwhile, countless other missing teens receive only brief mentions, particularly those from marginalized communities.
The Owatonna case deserved more than a mere announcement of resolution. What were the circumstances of the disappearance? What resources were deployed to find her? What support systems are now in place to prevent future incidents? These questions remain unanswered, leaving the community no better prepared to protect its youth.
The Dangerous Dismissal of Teen Disappearances
There’s a troubling tendency to minimize teenage disappearances as
