Less than 24 hours after Rosie O’Donnell reported her 17-year-old daughter, Chelsea O’Donnell, to be missing, she was 'found safe' with her dog in New Jersey on Aug. 18. The former host of The View posted the happy news on Twitter.
"Chelsea has been found and is safe in police custody - thank u all for the help and light #missingchildren"
chelsea has been found and is safe in police custody - thank u all for the help and light #missingchildren
— Rosie (@Rosie) August 18, 2015
The teen has been found hours after Rosie made a plea to the public for help in locating her. “Rosie wants to thank everyone for their help, especially the South Nyack, NY and Barneget Light, NJ police departments,” O’Donnell’s spokeswoman, Cindi Berger, said in a statement. “Her daughter Chelsea O’Donnell has been located by the police and is safe in their custody.”
Police in Nyack had been searching for the teen in Rockland County since Sunday. “We’re turning over stones as best we can, calling friends, contacts that she may have, trying to follow social media if possible,” said Sgt. Daniel Wilson, with South Nyack Police.
Chelsea was reported missing to police in Nyack, New York state, on August 11 after failing to return home. She was last seen at Rosie’s estate in South Nyack wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, dark, ripped blue jeans, grey Converse sneakers and a black backpack. Chelsea had stopped taking prescribed medication when she went missing with her therapy dog.
chelsea and her dog bear - last seen in nyack ny - may be in NYC - please call 845-358-0206 or 911 pic.twitter.com/1jXbNxravZ — Rosie (@Rosie) August 18, 2015
“Chelsea, like millions of people, lives with mental illness,” Cindi Berger said. “It has been a difficult road for Chelsea and her family and they just want her back safe.”
Investigators said after she disappeared, Chelsea spoke with her family from a blocked number, but did not say where she was or who she was with.
The power of social media not only helps in getting news out quickly, but also allows people far and wide to connect with each other. After Rosie sent a message announcing her daughter was missing and in need of medical care, the TV host has received many prayers from her fans on Twitter.
