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Fire crews, residents still putting out hot spots following massive grass fire

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OKLAHOMA CITY – Fire crews have been busy all day putting out hot spots from a large grass fire that happened Thursday in northeast Oklahoma City.

Officials said hundreds of acres were damaged in this blaze near N.E. 150th St. and Hiwassee.

Residents are working on cleaning up the mess and crews are trying to prevent more fires from occurring.

Broken and blackened branches, burnt ground and smoldering embers are left over from a massive grass fire that damaged about 400 acres.

Joseph Dwerlkotte said, “We saw it jump over the road into our property and saw it spread pretty quickly with the wind.”

Dwerlkotte was enjoying spring break outside when the fun stopped and survival mode kicked in.

He said, “We just kind of got the shovels out and just started to try and snuff out the fire as much as possible.”

The family lives on 40 acres along the Turner Turnpike, near N.E. 150th St. and Hiwassee.

This isn’t the first time a blaze has gotten a little too close to home.

He said, “Being near the highway, lot of times, trucks and other vehicles have a chain or something loose and a spark from that spark the fires.”

While the large flames are gone, there are tons of little fires rekindling that are damaging even more of the land.

Batt. Chief Felton Morgan, with the Oklahoma City Fire Department, said, “We want to get those things put out and, I mean all the way out, so that when the wind gusts or anything it doesn’t take those embers and blow those to a new area and start a new fire.”

Dry and windy conditions and heavy brush and timber have made it challenging for crews, but they won’t leave until every hot spot is out.

Luckily, no one was hurt and residents hope life goes back to normal for the weekend.

Dwerlkotte said, “Hopefully, just relax and hopefully not to fight anymore fires.”

There are burn bans in place for a handful of counties across the state.


UPDATE: Murder victim identified in unsolved case, suspect still on the loose

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GUTHRIE, Okla. – For months, investigators have been trying to figure out the identify of a man who was murdered in January.

Investigators say the man’s body was found burning in a Logan County field on Jan. 31.

His hands were bound and his body was thrown in a burn pile.

On Monday, authorities with the Logan county Sheriff’s Office and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation have identified the victim as 38-year-old Shawn Luther Masters.

Masters lived in Blanchard and officials say his family has now been notified.

However, his killer remains on the loose.

If you know anything about this case, please call the Logan County Sheriff’s Office.

ORIGINAL REPORT: Charred grass is all that’s left in the field and most of the evidence disappeared with the flames.

Three miles away on County Rd. 75, the mystery hits home for Langston University students.

Christauna Parker said, “It’s a very tragic loss. Especially, if he was on campus or we might have known him.”

Investigators were trying to find out if the victim went to school at the university and why his death was so gruesome.

“The obvious answer is either you really don’t like that person or you’re trying to hide evidence,” said Chief Deputy Richard Stephens, with the Logan County Sheriff’s Office. “Those are the two reasons you burn evidence.”

Chief Deputy Stephens says the victim was college-aged and probably Native American.

On his right upper chest, he had a tattoo of the Cherokee Nation seal.

On his right shoulder, he had the symbol of the bull skull and horned snake, known as Uktena.

“Think of friends you may have seen at a party,” said Chief Deputy Stephens. “Think of persons you may have gone golfing with or gone to a fraternity event or any number of public events where people see each other and might remember seeing someone with these very distinctive tattoos.”

For now, seeing the deputies on campus combing through rosters for Native American students who didn’t show up for class is a heavy reality for students.

“It’s very scary,” said Rashad Hall. “Whoever did it could still be looking around, lurking around. So, it’s very serious that they find who did it.”

Investigators are also searching Oklahoma State University’s campus for missing students.

They are working with area Native American tribes.

They are also searching mug shot databases to see if any tattoos match the victim’s.

If you know any information, call the Logan County Sheriff’s Office.

Fourth person arrested in connection to brutal Logan County murder

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GUTHRIE, Okla. – Another person has been arrested in connection to the murder of a man, whose body was dumped and set on fire in rural Logan County.

Authorities say 38-year-old Shawn Masters’ body was found burning in a trash pile in rural Logan County on Jan. 31.

His hands were bound and officers had a difficult time identifying the remains.

Shortly after identifying the victim as Masters, three people were arrested for his murder.

Brandy Hanson, Johnny Snow and Angel Munoz were all charged with offenses related to the crime.

Hanson and Munoz were both charged with desecration of a human corpse and conspiracy to commit a felony.

Snow was charged with unlawful disposal of a human body.

However, first-degree murder charges have not been filed yet.

According to court documents, one suspect allegedly beat, stabbed, choked and set fire to Masters.

Now, another person has been arrested in connection to the crime.

Officials arrested 36-year-old Twilia Wise for suspicion of unlawful removal of the dead.

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CLICK HERE FOR INITIAL STORY

If you have any information on the crime, contact the Logan County Sheriff’s Office or the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation at (405) 282-4100.

Truck sparks small grass fire in Logan County

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LOGAN COUNTY, Okla. – Officials said a burning vehicle sparked a grass fire near W. Charter Oak Rd. & Santa Fe Trail in Edmond, Okla. just after 5:30 p.m. Friday evening.

When crews arrived, they said they found a truck and about an acre of land in flames.

Visible black plumes of smoke shot up from the middle of the field where the blaze spread.

Authorities say the Oak Cliff Fire Department has the fire under control.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for updated information. 

 

How to help Logan County wildfire victims and crews

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LOGAN COUNTY, Okla. – If you would like to help those affected by the Logan County fires, officials suggest donating to your local Red Cross and the Salvation Army.

Logan County Red Cross: 

Donate Online
You can make a donation online by clicking here.

Make a Donation by Phone
You can make a donation by phone by calling (405) 282-1194.

Donate by Mail
The American Red Cross – Logan County Chapter
219 South Second Street
Guthrie, OK 73044

The Salvation Army

How to Donate

  • By mail: Checks may be mailed to The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma Area Command, P.O. Box 2095, Oklahoma City, OK 73101.
  • By texting: Text to give by texting “GIVE” to 80888 for a $10 donation. Text and message rates may apply.
  • By going online: Online donations can be made by clicking the “Donate” button above or at www.salvationarmyusa.org.
  • By calling: Call 1-800-SAL-ARMY for donations over the phone.

Thrift Store and In-Kind donations may be made to The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center by calling (405) 236-3677.

 

UPDATE: Gov. Fallin, forestry officials will decide on statewide burn ban this afternoon

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UPDATE: Governor Mary Fallin said she is talking with forestry officials about a statewide burn ban.

She said in a news conference they will make the decision on the burn ban “sometime this afternoon.”

GUTHRIE, Okla.- Fire crews continue to battle a large fire near Guthrie as hot spots are forcing firefighters to back track through charred woods.

Two Black Hawk helicopters from the Oklahoma National Guard have arrived on scene to help fight the flames from the air.

The hot spots that have reignited are in a heavily wooded area, making it extremely hard for firefighters to access that area.

Cedar trees are fueling the flames as the strong winds continue to spread the embers.

Officials are also trying to direct traffic near Industrial & Post Rd.

Thick smoke is making it extremely hard for drivers to see.

Winds are measuring around 30 miles per hour at this point.

Flames can also be seen rising above the treetops.

Watch the view of the fire from Bob Moore Chopper 4 here live. 

The original blaze started as a controlled burn on Sunday but has since spread to cover hundreds of acres.

One person has been killed and EMSA says it has treated 36 people for minor injuries.

Those injuries include fatigue, smoke inhalation and dehydration.

This is a developing story.

Refresh this page for updated information.

Families seek shelter after vicious wildfire forces them out of their homes

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LOGAN COUNTY, Okla. – Families who fled the flames on Sunday had no idea if their home would still be standing when they returned.

Sadly, some returned to find only a pile of ashes.

Other homes sustained only smoke damage.

One Logan County fire survivor, Evelynn Ritter said, “Thank you Oklahoma, thank you all emergency people, I don’t know your names, but right now it doesn’t matter, thank you.”

A mother and daughter hugged and cried after finding out their home is still standing.

Elizabeth Ritter said, “I’m relieved we got some place, but also thinking about that family that lost their loved one and those who don’t have a home.”

Their house is on land that has been in the family for more than six decades.

So far there has only been smoke damage to their home.

Other families are not as lucky.

A couple that lived in Andy’s Acres, near Pine and Seward, lost more than 60 years of memories, two mobile homes, a workshop and are now left homeless.

As the fire continues to burn, dozens of families are seeking shelter at The Community Church along I-35 near exit 151.

That is where the American Red Cross is helping survivors with food, water and a place to sleep.

“The people of Oklahoma, I don’t care where you’re from, they step up, they’re there for us,” said Evelyn Ritter.

The Red Cross said it will keep their temporary shelter open until the need is met.

Residents surveying damage after fires destroy homes

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LOGAN COUNTY, Okla. – Sunday’s fire across Logan County burned numerous homes and outbuildings.

Many of those evacuated were back at their properties Monday surveying the damage.

Jim Dill, who lost his home, said, “I just completed this not so long ago. I had windows going around. This was my dining room area.”

Dill has lived in the rural area near Seward and Midwest Boulevard for about 25 years.

Now, much of what he has worked for is gone.

His home, a storage building, a barn and a tool building were all destroyed by the fire Sunday night.

Dill said, “I can’t believe how much the fire just twisted metal around. It’s just unbelievable.”

Jim Dill said he was actually out of town Sunday.

His family watched on television as the fire spread to his property.

He said, “Actually, I was glad I wasn’t here because knowing me I probably would have fought it, maybe gotten injured.”

Only one building on his property was left standing after Sunday’s fires, but Monday’s flare-ups threatened that property too.

It has been an emotional day for Jim.

He is looking at what he has spent years building, only to see how a fire could destroy it all in a matter of hours.

Despite the emotion, he knows this is not the end of his story.

He said, “It’s only material stuff. It’s all replaceable.”

Many of those impacted by the fires were insured.

However, there are a few families who do not have insurance on the property which was destroyed.


Residents upset massive wildfire was started by “Controlled Burn”

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LOGAN COUNTY, Okla.  – Dozens of agencies continue battling a wildfire Monday in Logan County, east of Guthrie, that began southeast of I-35 and Seward road around 4 p.m. Sunday.

Tommy Rutledge doesn’t know which of his neighbors began a “controlled burn” near Pine St. and Forrest Hills Rd., but the flames devoured his backyard.

Fortunately, the wind shifted the fire away from his house.

“The village idiot wouldn’t burn in these conditions because it’s just plain stupid,” Rutledge said. “Anybody who lives out here knows that, so maybe it’s somebody that just moved out here.”

Several residents expressed their anger at Logan County not being under a burn ban Sunday.

Governor Fallin changed that Monday following a tour of the damage.

Guthrie Fire Chief Eric Harlow said residents do not need a permit to conduct a controlled burn outside the Guthrie city limits when a burn ban is not in effect.

The State Fire Marshall’s office and the Oklahoma Dept of Agriculture, Food and Forestry are investigating the person responsible for the controlled burn.

They did not identify the individual that started the fire, however their final report could make its way to the District Attorney’s office for consideration of criminal charges.

Wireless company deploys mobile disaster unit to assist those affected by wildfires

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GUTHRIE, Okla. – One of the largest wireless networks has deployed a mobile disaster response unit to support agencies battling wildfires in Guthrie, Oklahoma.

As local and state agencies battle the raging wildfires in Oklahoma, Verizon Wireless has deployed a mobile disaster response unit to Guthrie to provide assistance to those affected by the wildfires in Logan County.

“Communication is critical during an emergency so we are providing agencies on the ground with additional resources as they work around the clock,” said Kristi Crum, president of Verizon Oklahoma. “Our network is built to remain reliable in these situations and to handle the additional traffic, so we’re keeping emergency teams connected during the crisis.”

According to Verizon, wildfire victims and those who have been evacuated are able to access emergency phone, Internet and charging stations at the Community Church at 512 E. Seward Road in Guthrie, Oklahoma 73044.

They are offering free charging regardless of phone carrier.

Guthrie Fire Chief Eric Harlow said more than 30 structures have been destroyed in the fire and at least six of those structures were occupied.

Fire crews will be on the scene through Wednesday to keep the fire contained.

Logan County fire survivors worry about looters invading their property

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LOGAN COUNTY, Okla. – Many Logan County fire survivors are digging through piles of ashes, looking for anything they can salvage.

Some families worry looters will now be lurking in the area and are taking matters into their own hands to protect their property.

O.D. Jamison and his daughter Jessica are sifting through what is left of their home.

They plan on doing whatever they can to protect what they have left.

Jamison said, “Even if I have to stay out here with no electricity and no water to protect what I do have left, then I will.”

After the fire destroyed their home, O.D. Jamison drove four hours to Dallas to pick up his brother’s camper.

“It’s beautiful to me, but it’s just a camper now,” said Jamison. “There will be four of us living in here.”

Jessica believes the camper will bring their family closer together.

“I just hope that it makes us stronger and that we can rebuild from this,” said Jessica Jamison.

The fire has been tough on the Jamison family, but O.D. Jamison says he will continue to stay strong.

Jamison said, “When you lose your home, lose all your family pictures and stuff, sometimes you just want to throw your hands up in the air and say I quit, but I’m not going to.”

The Logan County Sheriff’s office said they have been stepping up patrols in the Terrill Estates neighborhood and will be for the next week, keeping an eye for looters.

To donate to the Jamison family, please visit their Go Fund Me page.

Update: Almost $1 million in damage reported in Logan County wildfires, cause still undetermined

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UPDATE: According to the Logan County Assessor’s office, around 60 properties were damaged or destroyed in the Logan County wildfires.

The damage totaled over $944,000.

Chief Eric Harlow, with the Guthrie Fire Department, says the Department of Agriculture’s official report says the cause of the fire will be listed as undetermined.

LOGAN COUNTY, Okla.  – Fire crews are battling wind in order to stop the wildfire burning through 3,500 acres of land in Logan County.

Initially, fire crews believed a person with a controlled burn on their property sparked the flames.

Supervisors say a witness reported seeing flames near a person’s property and said that person burns regularly.

However, investigators now say the evidence does not support that theory.

They won’t say what leads them to believe the fire started elsewhere.

Out in the damaged areas, homes are reduced to ash.

“It’s like a bomb,” said Glenda Church. “It’s depressing. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

She and her husband, Randy Church, a local construction worker, lived there for 37 years.

“We’re basically homeless,” said Randy. “I don’t know. Don’t ask me what we’re going to do. I don’t know what we’re going to do.”

They want to know how this started.

“There’s really no excuse for it,” said Randy. “A man died over here for it.”

That man was Johnnie Knox.

He was the Church’s neighbor.

Glenda’s childhood home is gone, her sister also lost her home.

The wildfire has caused tragedies for many families here.

“It’s a sad feeling, and I’m angry that I wish I had more time to prepare,” said Glenda.

With no home insurance, she’s left figuring out how to rebuild from nothing.

Video: Woman tries to make getaway inside local jail

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LOGAN COUNTY, Okla. – A woman tried to make a getaway inside the Logan County Jail.

Tajuana Christopher was caught with drugs near a school.

Chief Deputy Rich Stephens said, “She was here in court today to answer for those charges in court today. She was out on bond, the court remanded her to the custody of the sheriff’s office and she was arrested in court.”

After the judge’s decision, she walked down the hallway and made threatening remarks to the deputy.

She then managed to squeeze out of her handcuffs and tied to make a run for the stairs.

Stephens said, “Down the stairs was just another set of deputies waiting at the metal detective area so she wouldn’t have been able to escape.”

The deputy was able to quickly catch her, but she continued to put up a fight.

Lawmen say she has been difficult to work with.  They say she has even threatened bodily harm to jailers.

Trying to flee from her previous felony has landed Christopher with another felony.

Christopher is being held in the Logan County Jail without bond.

 

 

 

Great State: An Oklahoma Artist Who Found the Best Light in a Month of Mornings

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Edmond, Oklahoma — She packs light.

Tripod, paint box, a few brushes, and thermos of coffee are the only items artist Kelli Folsom requires.

“You just feel like this is right,” she says of a sunrise. “I’m just here and I’m alive and good the way I am.”

Her series of paintings started in the Spring when she woke up too late to see the sunrise.

“It’s like the best part of the whole day, and I was missing it.”

The next morning Kelli painted the first light coming over the dome at St. Elijah’s Orthodox Church.

She didn’t plan on getting up early for a whole month, but she did.

“That’s what it’s all about,” she says while painting. “I started doing this to be in the moment, to enjoy it.”

There are moments in every day when people feel better. It might be after lunch or dinner, or after work.

Kelli feels best at the beginning of things when possibilities fill the sky.

“Birds singing, and this incredible sun coming up,” she gestures. “I just feel good. This is right on.”

30 sunrises in 30 days was never her goal to start but each new sunrise added to the other.

Her month-long journey ended with a collection of small paintings she turned into a book.

Folsom says, “It was just like for my own selfish pleasure you know? That was it.”

This morning’s sunrise is a little less solitary than the others.

But in less than an hour she has it captured in a painting.

Her image leaves out a lonely pump jack and an iron fence guarding it.

She leaves in all the qualities that make these times special.

Folsom has a show opening July 26th at the Howell Gallery in Oklahoma City.

If you’d like to see more of her paintings or order her book of sunrises go to http://www.kellifolsom.com

 

Charges lowered for Logan County man initially accused of rape

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Warning: Some of the content in this story may be disturbing to some.

LOGAN COUNTY, Okla. – A Logan County man who was accused of raping a teenager was initially facing serious charges.

Now those charges have been dramatically reduced.

Mark Shawn Couch was charged with raping a 16-year-old girl.

Court records show the teenager told investigators after being intoxicated and passing out, she woke up the next day wearing different underwear.

When the girl asked Couch what happened, he said he changed her clothes because she had vomited and urinated on herself.

When the teenager was using Couch’s computer a few weeks later, she says she discovered graphic pictures of her private area and breasts fully exposed.

Officials say the photos also showed Couch’s “short stubby fingers inside her.”

Couch was arrested and charged with rape by instrumentation, child pornography, and violating the computer crimes act.

Right before trial was set to begin, the charges were drastically changed.

The rape charge was lowered to enabling child abuse and the child pornography charge was lowered to taking clandestine photos.  The computer crimes count was dismissed altogether.

Couch was sentenced to one year in county jail.

With the rape charge gone, he does not have to register as a sex offender.

Irvin Box, Mark Couch’s attorney said, “The district attorney and I came to an agreement that the charges should be what they were and what he plead to as opposed to what the original charges were.”

Box claims the teenager’s allegations did not hold up.

Box said, “There are some graphic things, statements put in the affidavit.  I think when we finally got down to it, the evidence wasn’t going to show all of that.”

Now folks in Guthrie are questioning whether a dangerous man got off simply because he had a good attorney.

NewsChannel 4 contacted the Logan County District Attorney’s Office to find out why those serious initial charges were lowered so severely.  However, we still have no heard back from them.


Man accused of kidnapping, punching, and choking a mother and her 4-year-old

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LOGAN COUNTY, Okla. – An Oklahoma man is under arrest and facing several charges after deputies say he kidnapped, punched, and choked a 4-year-old girl and her mother at gunpoint.

Logan County Sheriff’s deputies say they got a call about a domestic battery last week at the 1600 block of South Western Ave. in Central Logan County.

When deputies got there, they found Jonathan Lee Goodman, 30,  inside the home threatening suicide with a rifle.

A deputy was able to talk the man out of the house without harming himself.

A woman and her 4-year-old daughter told deputies Goodman was angry because the girl was upset and crying over some bathroom issues.

They claim that Goodman threw the little girl by the hair across a room on two occasions and punched her in the face.

Deputies say Goodman also choked the woman when she tried to protect the child, then choked the girl and held them both hostage.

The woman said they weren’t allowed to leave the home and that Goodman threw a sword and pipe wrench at her.

She claims Goodman also threatened them with a rifle and shot at them twice.

Neither victim was struck by the gunshots from the rifle.

The Logan County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Human Services is now investigating.

Deputies arrested Goodman and charged him with assault with a dangerous weapon, kidnapping, child abuse,  and domestic abuse by strangulation.

Goodman was arraigned and is being held on $250,000 bail.

 

Rollover crash in Logan County kills one man

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LOGAN COUNTY, Okla. – A rollover crash in Edmond, Okla. kills one man.

It happened around 3:45 p.m. Monday at the intersection of Broadway and Charter Oak, which is about two miles north of Edmond.

Authorities say an Edmond woman was driving a Hyundai with two children in the car when her vehicle hit a truck.

Both vehicles rolled over and the truck hit a Honda Accord driven by John Paul Newsom.

Newsom died at the scene.

Newsom’s passenger was taken to the hospital in stable condition.

 

Former football player found guilty after nearly beating inmate to death

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LOGAN COUNTY, Okla. – A former football player was found guilty after nearly beating an inmate to death inside the jail.

According to Guthrie News Page, 24-year-old Sir Demarco Dartanyon Bledsoe was found guilty to assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in the jail house beating of Gabriel Barr.  A jury is recommending a five year sentence.

Bledsoe is accused of punching and kicking Barr until he went unconscious.

Guthrie News Page reports Barr received several fractures to his head, eye, upper and lower jaw bone.

Bledsoe was a defensive end on the Langston University football team in 2011.

He is in jail for allegedly kidnapping, beating, and shooting a University of Central Oklahoma student in 2012.

He has yet to be convicted of those crimes.

FOOTBALL PLAYER ARRESTED FOR KIDNAPPING, BEATING, SHOOTING STUDENT

Edmond’s “Santa Fe Sam” surrenders to authorities

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EDMOND, Okla. – Edmond Santa Fe’s beloved janitor surrendered himself to authorities Thursday afternoon.

Sam Selig, better known as “Santa Fe Sam”, is facing five felony charges including lewd acts with his own young relatives and child pornography.

He was booked into the Logan County Jail just after 2:00 p.m.

Selig worked as Edmond Santa Fe’s custodian and sports announcer for years.

Officials say Selig resigned this past April.

In a Facebook post before his last day at Santa Fe, he announced his resignation adding, “I have made a mistake in my life. A very horrible mistake. One that I cannot and will not run from.”

Logan County Chief Deputy Rich Stephens says Selig initially denied he’d molested one young relative, but later admitted to it and said he also molested another.

It was DHS that brought the allegations to Logan County’s attention, but they believe one of the victim’s parents knew about it but did not call police.

Court documents say they talked about the situation as a family and decided they were not going to report it.

Update: Oklahoma sheriff’s deputies locate runaway teen

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Update: The 14-year-old runaway from Guthrie has been located.

Police say Elisabeth Wilson was found un-harmed.

Read the original report below

GUTHRIE, Okla. – Logan County Sheriff’s deputies are searching for a 14-year-old girl.

Deputies say Elisabeth “Izzy” Wilson has been reported as a runaway juvenile.

She is described as 5’3” tall, weighing 120 lbs, blue eyes, blonde hair, but she has recently dyed her hair dark, possibly black.

Wilson also has orthodontic braces.

She was last seen wearing black sweatpants and a grey hoody with yellow elephants on it.

The teen was last spotted in an east Guthrie neighborhood, is believed to be with another juvenile male from that area.

Both students are absent from school.

If you have any information related to this investigation, please contact the Logan County Sheriff’s Office at (405)260-3204.

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