Missing Teens Found in Michigan, Police Arrest Man Harboring One

A 16-year-old girl who escaped from the Vista Maria juvenile care center in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, was found weeks later living with a 62-year-old man who has since been arrested for harboring her while residing in the U.S. illegally. Police determined the girl and the man had no prior relationship and that she stayed with him voluntarily after meeting him on the street, seeking shelter and financial support. The Vista Maria facility faces multiple allegations of long-term physical and sexual abuse, staff shortages, and poor conditions, leading police to refuse to return the girl there and prompting calls for a comprehensive state investigation. Authorities have conducted a sexual assault examination and placed the girl in Children’s Protective Services while the investigation continues. The man provided the girl with a phone, but she was only allowed to use it in his presence and never contacted authorities. The case underscores ongoing concerns about the safety and oversight of juvenile care centers in Michigan.