Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
BOUNTIFUL — A 13-year-old Bountiful girl reported missing Tuesday afternoon may be on her way to Idaho to meet a man she met through social media, authorities said.
Kayla Leatherman had been in contact with the adult living north of the Utah border, police said. They were investigating information provided by her friends from junior high Tuesday evening.
"Her being a 13-year-old and him being an adult causes us concern," said Bountiful Assistant Police Chief Edward Biehler. "We've been trying to track that part of the case down to see who he is."
Police have only a first name and phone number of the adult they say Kayla had been talking to. Biehler did not say where the man lives or release his name.
Officers believe the pair met on social media and say their exchanges found on the teen's phone were not sexual.
Kayla was last seen just after school at 500 N. Main.
The girl with long brown hair and blue eyes is estimated to be about 4 feet 11 inches tall and 100 pounds. She was wearing a black hoodie with a red and green "Hardwood Mechanical" logo printed on the back, detectives said.
Officers believe Kayla was walking with a red-headed boy who is about 5 feet 9 inches tall with a slender build shortly before her disappearance.
Biehler said his agency doesn't yet know if Kayla has run away in the past.
Anyone with information is asked to call Bountiful police at 801-298-6000.
