Teen who vanished hours before graduation ‘was unhappy with boyfriend and ran away to be with man she met on game app’
AN Ohio teen who vanished hours before her graduation was unhappy with her boyfriend and ran away to be with a man she met on an app, reports say.
High school senior Madison "Maddie" Bell, 18, disappeared on May 17 after telling her mom she was heading to a tanning salon, which had reopened as restrictions eased.
, a liaison for the runaway teen's family, said Madison met this man on a gaming app around three years ago.
Nestor told the teen's best friend received texts indicating Madison didn't want to be with her live-in boyfriend Cody Mann – but her mom, Melissa Bell, wasn't happy about that.
“[The] mom was forcing her to be with Cody, said ‘you’re dating him, you don’t have a choice,'” Nestor said, adding that Madison's mother "yelled at her" when she tried to raise the subject.
Madison told Melissa she would be ending the relationship when she turned 18, indicating Mann was "mean behind closed doors," according to CrimeOnline.
In an interview with Nancy Grace, Mann said the young couple had no issues in their relationship and he didn't know why his girlfriend would bolt.
But Madison reportedly told the cops who found her that she planned to "start a new life" without him.
"She has struggles and my concern is she ran away out of desperation, with no glasses, contacts, or identification," Nestor said, revealing that Madison took a photo of herself to give to her distraught mom.
"There are people in the community who are offering her a home and resources if she is not safe.”
Because she isn't a minor, the 18-year-old did not commit a crime by leaving her home and no charges have been filed.
“Bell has been located safe and left on her own free will,” Sheriff Donnie Barrera said.
Although Melissa claimed she never received a note from her daughter revealing her plans, Nestor is doubtful given the timeline.
The Ohio mom reported her daughter missing on Facebook – within 15 minutes from the time Madison left their Greenfield home.
Nestor felt this indicated Melissa posted right after reading Madison's note.
The victim's advocate said she is "seriously concerned about Maddie’s safety."
Her family have since released a statement after she was found safe.
"We ask that the public and media respect our privacy during this difficult time while we are emotionally raw," it read.
"We are just relieved to know Maddie is alive and not in physical danger."