A West Virginia University student and cross-country runner, TaShala Turner, has gone missing, the university’s police confirmed.
“We are aware of the reports regarding WVU student TaShala Turner. Officers have been in touch with her family, and while there is a concern for TaShala’s wellbeing, we do not suspect foul play is involved at this time. UPD will continue to investigate this case,” the department stated on Dec. 3.
April Kaull, a spokeswoman for the university, said that a missing person report was filed on Dec. 2.
The report was filed by Turner’s mother, Kaull told The DA.
According to the university’s website, Turner, who is majoring in exercise physiology, is a member of the university’s cross-country team.
At University High, she excelled in running, earning three all-state selections and four all-Ohio Valley Athletic Conference selections.
Turner is described as white, with blonde hair, standing 5 feet, 5 inches tall.
if anyone has any whereabouts on TaShala Turner, please contact myself or WVU PD. any information at all can help. she has not been seen since last Tuesday. transactions have been found in florida so every rt will help. pic.twitter.com/k1b9LJQ4EU
— Gianna DeVincent (@GDevincent) December 3, 2018
LICENSE PLATE: 51F830 pic.twitter.com/chcy4dAZeh
— Gianna DeVincent (@GDevincent) December 3, 2018
Friends Speak Out
Friends have been circulating information about Turner’s disappearance online, emphasizing they are concerned about her.
One said that she dropped off a bag at her dorm on Nov. 26 and was “seen leaving her dorm Tuesday evening in distress.”
Turner did not stay at her dorm on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday and missed exams on Tuesday and Wednesday, the friend added.
The last time she was seen was at Juice Bar on Evansdale Campus on Nov. 29. Her credit card showed transactions at a Kroger gas station in Morgantown, at another gas station in Beckley, and a Circle K further down south.
Her card was not used during the next two days but was used at a gas station in South Carolina, a gas station in Georgia, and a gas station in St. Augustine, Florida, the friend said.
Responding to the statement issued by the university police, the friend said: “Regardless of foul play, this is not like TaShala … something is wrong. PLEASE CONTINUE SHARING HER STORY AND BRING HER HOME.”
Another friend shared a post, adding: “Keep tashalas family in your thoughts and prayers. nothing i hope for more than she gets home safe and soon.”
Anyone with information was urged to call the West Virginia University Police or the West Virginia State Police.
Former WV State Champion & University High Star @TashalaTurner Reported Missing https://t.co/GbkkbCnQnV pic.twitter.com/EvR0HbnaYN
— MileSplit WV (@MileSplitWV) December 3, 2018
Missing Children
There were 464,324 missing children reported in the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC) in 2017, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Under federal law, when a child is reported missing to law enforcement they must be entered into the database.
In 2016, there were 465,676 entries.
“This number represents reports of missing children. That means if a child runs away multiple times in a year, each instance would be entered into NCIC separately and counted in the yearly total. Likewise, if an entry is withdrawn and amended or updated, that would also be reflected in the total,” the center noted.
In 2017, the center said it assisted officers and families with the cases of more than 27,000 missing children.
In those cases, 91 percent were endangered runaways, and 5 percent were family abductions.
About one in seven children reported missing to the center in 2017 were likely victims of child sex trafficking.
