Madison Fields, 15, was last seen February 13 at approximately 4 p.m. leaving the InTown Suites on Colerain Avenue in Cincinnati, Ohio. The teenager has been missing for nearly a month, and her family is pleading for public assistance in locating her.
Background
Madison returned home from school on February 13 and asked her parents, Tyler and Carrie Hirn, if she could spend the night at a friend's house. Her mother gave permission, but has not seen her daughter since. "I thought she was going straight to her friend's house," Carrie Hirn told KVAL 13.
Investigators learned from Madison's younger sister that the teenager planned to meet an 18-year-old named "Josh," whom she met on Session, an encrypted messaging app. This information became a key detail in the ongoing investigation.
In reviewing security footage from the family's home in January, Colerain Township Police Department investigators linked Madison to Kyle Lawrence, a 43-year-old man from New York. Footage showed her getting into a black Jeep Grand Cherokee with New York license plates. License plate readers and receipts confirmed Lawrence rented the vehicle two weeks before Madison disappeared.
According to NBC 5, law enforcement determined that Madison and Lawrence stayed together at a Cincinnati hotel on January 31. A photo obtained by investigators showed Lawrence "in a swimming pool at a hotel with Maddie," according to her mother.
The Investigation
Lawrence was arrested earlier this month in Buffalo, New York. He is a married father with children. While he has not been directly charged with Madison's disappearance, he faces multiple charges including transportation of child pornography, transportation with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and travel with the intent to engage in illicit conduct.
An arrest affidavit indicated that Lawrence admitted to chatting with Madison on Snapchat and meeting up with her twice in Cincinnati. He has not admitted to harming her. "He won't tell us anything," Carrie Hirn said, adding that she had never seen Lawrence or his vehicle before.
Multiple law enforcement agencies are actively investigating, including the FBI in both Cincinnati and Buffalo. Madison was last seen wearing camouflage pants, a black "Champion" hooded sweatshirt, and black shoes. She was carrying a black backpack and a white grocery bag.
Key Takeaways
- Madison Fields, 15, was last seen February 13 in Cincinnati, Ohio
- Kyle Lawrence, 43, of New York, has been arrested but not charged in connection with her disappearance
- Lawrence faces charges including transportation of child pornography and travel with intent to engage in illicit conduct
- He admitted to meeting Madison twice in Cincinnati, according to an arrest affidavit
- The FBI is assisting local authorities in the search effort
What's Next
Lawrence is scheduled for a detention hearing on Tuesday. Law enforcement officials continue to investigate his involvement in Madison's disappearance and are seeking any information that might lead to finding the missing teenager. The public is encouraged to come forward with any relevant information.
Family members described Madison as "a very smart girl" who is "very sweet and innocent." Anyone with information regarding Madison Fields' whereabouts is asked to contact the Colerain Township Police Department or local FBI authorities.