Citizen tip leads authorities to missing teen

Citizen tip leads authorities to missing teen
By Kristin Will
Staff Writer, kwill@turley.com

SOUTH HADLEY – Chicopee Police tracked down missing South Hadley teen Kaitlyn Maslanka Tuesday evening after receiving a phone tip alerting police of her location.
The 16-year-old girl was spotted at the CVS Pharmacy located on Exchange Street in Chicopee, near Elms College.
The City’s police department located Maslanka at 6:20 p.m. and notified the South Hadley Police Department of her whereabouts. Upon their arrival, South Hadley police took Maslanka, unharmed, into custody. She was eventually reunited with her parents. Foul play is not suspected in her disappearance.
Maslanka was reported missing Monday evening after she failed to reach a destination to which she was headed in the Willimansett section of Chicopee. Maslanka apparently left her South Hadley residence on foot at approximately 4:30 p.m. that day. She had not been heard from since that time. Maslanka was last seen getting into the passenger side of a vehicle operated by a female at the Cumberland Farms located on Newton Street in South Hadley at 2 p.m.
Throughout the day on Tuesday, due to the widespread media attention, police had received numerous phone calls regarding the young girl and her potential whereabouts. “We were able to garner some information which led us in certain directions,” said South Hadley Police Lt. William Sowa. “Eventually it was a phone tip that brought us to her location.”

South Hadley teen missing since Monday

South Hadley teen missing since Monday
By Kristin Will
Staff Writer, kwill@turley.com

UPDATE: (5:12 p.m.) Kaitlyn Maslanka was LAST SEEN at CUMBERLAND FARMS on Newton Street, South Hadley getting into the passenger side of a vehicle driven by a female at 2 p.m.

SOUTH HADLEY – Sixteen-year-old Kaitlyn Maslanka of South Hadley has been missing since Monday, according to South Hadley Police.
The department received a missing persons report Monday evening after Maslanka failed to reach a destination to which she was headed in Chicopee. Maslanka apparently left her South Hadley home on foot at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Monday.
According to a statement released by South Hadley Police Lt. William Sowa, it is believed Maslanka was headed “to a residence in the Willimansett section in Chicopee.” She did not arrive at that residence and has not been heard from since leaving South Hadley.
Maslanka is described as a white female, standing 5 feet, 2 inches tall. She is of a medium build and has brown hair and green eyes. She was last seen wearing a black zip-up sweatshirt and grey or black yoga pants. Police say she may be in need of her medication.
If anyone has seen Maslanka or has any information about her whereabouts, South Hadley Police ask to contact their department at (413) 538-8231. Anonymous tips may be left by dialing (413) 538-8231 and pressing 6.