A 12-year-old girl with special needs, Katelyn, has gone missing, causing great concern for her mother, Amy Lewis, aged 35.
Katelyn, who hails from Llanelli, left Carmarthen Learning Centre in the company of two boys at approximately 11 am on Tuesday, October 17.
Amy Lewis revealed that a teacher from the center followed Katelyn, who has autism and epilepsy, all the way to Carmarthen town center in an attempt to convince her to return.
Amy stated, ‘When Katelyn declined to return, the teacher could no longer keep pace with her and made a 999 call at approximately 11:30 am today.’
Amy further mentioned that there was another sighting of Katelyn at 2:30 pm behind Tesco Extra on Morfa Lane in Carmarthen. She also mentioned that Katelyn had only been attending the school for three weeks and was unfamiliar with the town.
“That’s the worry that if [the two boys] have left her, she does not know Carmarthen. She’s very vulnerable and could be in a lot of danger. She doesn’t know stranger danger…she’s very delayed, she’s been diagnosed with the brain of an eight-year-old.”
Her family and the police continue their search for her, and it is now 9:45 pm, nearly two hours past her scheduled time to take her epilepsy medication at 8 pm. Amy stated, “Any time after 8pm, she’s at high risk of going into seizures.”
The two boys are also reportedly missing, and none of the children have their phones, Amy confirmed. She said, ‘So the three of them are untraceable, and there is no way to determine their whereabouts.’
Katelyn’s last known attire was a gray hoodie, dark blue jeans, white trainers with brown laces, and black patches on the shoe’s rim. She has naturally curly brown hair that she wears down, a slim build, and brown eyes, as described by her mother.
Amy mentioned that the police have elevated the incident’s status to ‘high risk’ and have deployed drones in the search. She expressed her immense concern, stating, “I’m completely out of my mind with worry…it’s terrifying to me. If she had gone missing in her hometown, I know I would be able to find her a lot faster, because she’s well known,” she said. “The fact that she’s in Carmarthen, unknown, with all her vulnerabilities, she could be literally anywhere and she’s easily led.”
Dyfed-Powys Police has initiated an appeal to locate Katelyn. Their statement reads: “Have you seen Katelyn? She was last seen in the Johnstown area of Carmarthen at around 11.30am this morning (17 October). She is described as around 5ft 3ins tall, of slight build with long, brown hair (worn down). She was last seen wearing a grey hoodie and jeans.
“Officers believe she is with two teenage boys who are wearing all black clothing. Have you seen Katelyn or do you have info that might help us find her? Please, let us know: Direct message on social media, https://bit.ly/DPPmissingperson, [email protected], 101. Quote reference: DP-20231017-122. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908.”
