The 14-year-old girl Oakwood authorities said ran away from foster care earlier this month has been located in Alto, an investigator confirmed.
"I have located the missing juvenile, Angelina Jose Francisco, at a residence located in Alto, Habersham County on January 13, 2017 with the assistance of the satellite technology and resources that was available to this agency," Oakwood Police Sgt. Danny Sridej said in an email.
Investigators went public with photos of the girl on January 12 and at the time, said they were concerned about her health and welfare.
Francisco's parents were deported to Guatemala, according to Sridej. She was placed in a foster home in Oakwood by the Department of Family and Children's Services.
Francisco had last been seen on Monday, January 9, walking along Old Flowery Branch Road near Mundy Mill Road. Authorities later found out a family friend picked her up.
"Basically she (Francisco) calls around all of the friends in the Guatemala network, and this particular individual came and picked her up," Sridej said. "She (Francisco) didn't disclose what her circumstance was, so she (friend) didn't know the reason why she (Francisco) wanted a place to go. They (friend) knew that her parents weren't in the United States. That's the reason they (friend) came and picked her up."
Someone claiming to be Francisco emailed AccessWDUN on Friday, stating, "I am not lost anymore." Sridej responded to a Friday request for the status of the case Tuesday morning.
"She was fine. She was in good health and was, you know, upbeat and a little surprised that I found her," Sridej said.
Francisco was transported back to the Hall County DFCS custody without incident, police said.
When the search was on last week, Sridej said Francisco's only known relative in the area is an older brother, identified as Domingo Jose Francisco. At the time, Sridej said his whereabouts were unknown.
