Lisa and Christopher Damron head into town for a job interview, leaving the children with their grandfather. Around 3:00 pm, their eldest daughter texts that Stefanie left the house and they can’t find her. She explains she got in an argument with Stefanie over which chores each of them would take, and Stefanie stormed off into the woods. This isn’t unusual for Stefanie, and the Damrons assume she will return before it starts to get dark.
While their parents are away, Stefanie gets in an argument with her sister over their chores and storms out the open front door, which her grandfather is trying to realign. Grandpa tries to stop Stefanie—but after noticing tears in her eyes, he lets the 13-year-old go, assuming she will return after cooling off. He sees Stephanie walk off into the woods and eventually goes back to his work.
When Stefanie still hasn’t returned an hour and a half later, the Damron's come home to search for her. Stefanie is extremely familiar with the woods near their home, and they check all her usual spots—but find no trace of the 13-year-old. The family doesn’t think Stefanie would have headed to the main road, but as they walk the half mile trail leading to the street, Grandpa and some of her siblings remember hearing some kind of vehicle pass by just a few minutes after Stefanie left.
As sunset approaches with no sign of Stefanie, the Damrons become increasingly concerned that Stefanie is no longer in the area. The teen isn’t responding to anyone screaming her name, she does not have her own cellphone, and temperatures have dropped more than 10 degrees. First thing in the morning, the Damrons officially report Stephanie missing with Maine State Police.
Joining Nancy Grace today: