Crime & Courts

14-year-old reported as runaway who took SUV has been found safe

Update 7:40 a.m. Dec. 6: Anchorage police said Tuesday that missing teen Mary Rotzler has been found safe.

A brief statement issued by police didn't say whether 14-year-old Rotzler, reported as a runaway in early November, had actually run away from home.

"Rotzler was located by the Alaska State Troopers in the Mat-Su Borough and is safe," police wrote.

In addition, a gold 2002 Ford Explorer SUV Rotzler had reportedly taken at the time was found in Anchorage.

Original story:

The Anchorage Police Department asked the public for help Monday to locate a 14-year-old girl who reportedly ran away from her home and took an SUV.

Police identified the teenager as Mary Rotzler and described her as an Alaska Native female with brown hair and brown eyes. She weighs 120 pounds and is 5 feet, 1 inch tall, according to police.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jennifer Castro, police spokeswoman, said Rotzler was reported as a runaway in early November. Castro said that Rotzler called a family member on Sunday and was "implying potential harm to herself." She said police are concerned for Rotzler's safety.

"There's concern for her well-being and we would just like to locate her and make sure she's safe and unharmed," Castro said.

Castro said Rotzler reportedly took an SUV last week. Castro did not have information Monday about under what circumstances Rotzler took the vehicle.

Police said the SUV is a gold 2002 Ford Explorer with the license plate GUR719. It has a cracked rear window and the back "Explorer" emblem is missing a letter.

Castro asked anyone with information on the whereabouts of Rotzler or the SUV to call police at 907-786-8900 and press "0" to speak with dispatch.

Tegan Hanlon

Tegan Hanlon was a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News between 2013 and 2019. She now reports for Alaska Public Media.

ADVERTISEMENT