Missing teens located after leaving school the previous day

HAMILTON TWP. — Police have found today, April 14, two teenagers who had walked away from Little Miami High School and were missing for more than 24 hours.

Little Miami Superintendent Dan Bennett confirmed at 5:45 p.m. that 14-year-old Kylie Holt and 16-year-old Kegan Kirby were found unharmed. Hamilton Twp. Lt. Jeff Braley said they were found in a wooded area near Mounts and Stephens roads.

The incident has led to an investigation by the school’s administration, partly because the teens’ parents were not immediately notified that their children were missing.

Police said the two teens had walked away from the high school around 10 a.m. Tuesday. A short time later the students were reported missing at the office, however the students’ parents were not notified until after the school day was over, Bennett said.

School staff should have been on alert that Kirby might try to runaway.

High school officials were aware of a previous incident (not at school) when he tried to do so previously; a plan was in place to keep track of the student while he was at school, Bennett said.

A staff meeting was held at the high school this afternoon. Bennett said he will be investigating the incident to determine what the students’ schedules were, how they were able to walk away from the school without being stopped and where communications broke down.