Family Says Rehab Didn’t Notice Lubbock Teen Was Missing for 8 Hours
The family of a 14-year-old teen that was sent to a rehabilitation center in Tyler says the center didn't realize he was gone for 8 hours.
Caden Smith, originally from Lubbock, stands at 5'10", has dark brown hair and brown eyes. You can see what Caden looks like in the image above.
He was reported missing on Tuesday, August 3rd, 2021.
KAMC News reports that Caden was originally sent to the Azelway facility in Big Sandy, Texas two months prior. This facility is around 450 miles from Lubbock.
It's said that he was sent on a bus by the Lubbock County Juvenile Justice Center. The Azleway Substance Abuse Program helps young men between 13 and 17 to develop what they call a solid recovery program. A family member last saw Caden leaving that facility.
The family was informed that Caden had left the facility at around 11:07 p.m. Monday night, but he wasn't found missing until about 7:30 a.m., even though headcounts were supposed to have been taking place throughout the night. The family wasn't notified until around 8 a.m. On top of this, the Upshur County Sheriff's Office wasn't notified until about 9 a.m.
His family says that the facility had a video of him leaving through the window while his roommates watched for guards.
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