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MADDIE FOUND

Missing high school senior Madison Bell found safe a week after she vanished before graduation

MADISON Bell, the Ohio high school senior who vanished last weekend, has been found safe and no arrests will be made, authorities said Saturday.

The 18-year-old disappeared on Sunday hours before her graduation ceremony when she told her mother she was going tanning.

 Bell, 18, disappeared without a trace on Sunday morning hours before her graduation
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Bell, 18, disappeared without a trace on Sunday morning hours before her graduationCredit: Facebook

The Highland County Sheriff's Office wrote on Facebook that Bell "has been located and is safe."

The sheriff's office said the teen left of her own free will and does not want to disclose her location, according to WHIO.

"We ask that the public and media respect our privacy during this difficult time while we are emotionally raw," her family said in a statement.

"We are just relieved to know Maddie is alive and not in physical danger."

"Thank you to every single person who looked for Maddie including Rescue 101 Search and Rescue, Texas Equusearch, the amazing members of our local community, and volunteers that came from other areas to search for our daughter.

"Thank you to everyone who donated on Maddie’s behalf to assure we had reward money to offer for her safe return."

 A churchgoer told investigators they saw a white four-door sedan in the church parking lot the same day Madison disappeared
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A churchgoer told investigators they saw a white four-door sedan in the church parking lot the same day Madison disappearedCredit: Facebook

The family also thanked law enforcement agencies and members "for their hard work over the past 6 days, and for leaving no rock unturned."

Investigators had released a picture of a man who may have had information about Bell, and the sheriff's office is asking for help in their efforts to identify him.

Bell's car was found in a church parking lot in Ohio, with her phone and wallet still inside.

A church employee told investigators they saw a white four-door sedan in the church parking lot that Sunday morning, WGN reported.

 The teen said she was heading to a tanning appointment hours before her graduation
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The teen said she was heading to a tanning appointment hours before her graduationCredit: Facebook

The vehicle stood out to the parishioner because there were no services held that day due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The employee believes the car had California license plates and said he saw a while male near it.

The new information surfaced hours after Gov Mike DeWine shared Madison's picture and information at a statewide news conference.

Bell's family said she was last seen on Sunday morning as she left to go to a tanning salon near Greenfield.

After the McClain High School senior didn't return, her loved ones became worried.

"We saw her car parked in this church parking lot," Madison's mother, Melissa Bell, told WHIO.

 Bell is a senior at McClain High School in Greenfield, Ohio
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Bell is a senior at McClain High School in Greenfield, OhioCredit: Facebook

"The windows are up, we open the door, her phone is laying in it, her keys in the ignition, the change is in the container she had. The car was left unlocked.

"She would never leave her car unlocked, she would never leave her phone in there," her mother insisted.

There was no sign of Madison nearby, and police do not believe she made it to her tanning appointment.

"There’s been reports from witnesses that there was a tall, white man, late 20s to early 30s that they saw there," Melissa told WKRC of the suspect at large.

A plea was sent out to truck drivers to be on the lookout for a white sedan with California plates, the Highland County Press reported.

 A missing person flyer for Madison
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A missing person flyer for MadisonCredit: Facebook

Sheriff Donnie Barrera told WHIO it does not look like there was a struggle at the missing teen's vehicle – but police are investigating multiple scenarios in the teen's disappearance.

Her family and friends, distraught, are hoping for the teen's safe return.

"She’s the most loving girl I’ve ever seen in my life. I mean, I can’t even explain it... I just want her to come home," Cody Mann, Madison's boyfriend of five years who lives with the family told Fox19.

 Madison's mom Melissa Bell said her daughter 'would never leave her car unlocked' or her phone inside unattended
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Madison's mom Melissa Bell said her daughter 'would never leave her car unlocked' or her phone inside unattendedCredit: Facebook
 Madison's boyfriend of five years, Cody Mann, has pleaded for her safe return home
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Madison's boyfriend of five years, Cody Mann, has pleaded for her safe return homeCredit: Facebook

Madison is described as standing 5 feet, 6 inches tall, and weighing 120 to 125 pounds.

She has brown hair and brown eyes, and a cross tattoo on her neck.

The teen also has a ghost tattoo on her side, and wears gray contact lenses.

Anyone with information related to Bell's disappearance is asked to contact the Highland County Sheriff's Office at 937-393-1421 or the Ross County Sheriff's Office at 740-773-1185.

 Hundreds of volunteers have joined the search for the missing teen
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Hundreds of volunteers have joined the search for the missing teenCredit: Facebook
 Madison was left seen leaving her high school to go tan on Sunday – but has not been seen since
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Madison was left seen leaving her high school to go tan on Sunday – but has not been seen sinceCredit: Facebook