LOCAL : ‘Missing’ Woman Calls Police
A 20-year-old woman reported missing more than two weeks ago recently notified police that she is safe and living with a family in Los Angeles County, authorities said today.
Tufa Petelo arrived at the Anaheim police station Friday and told officers that she left home Sept. 26 after receiving a severe beating from the woman who reported her disappearance, Police Lt. Marc Hedgpeth said.
Petelo informed police of her whereabouts when she heard they were conducting an extensive missing-person search but declined to press charges in the alleged beating, Hedgpeth said.
“We have confirmed that she was beaten severely on Sept. 25 or 26 by the same person who reported her missing,” Hedgpeth said. “This caused (Petelo) to run away. In her mind, she left for her own safety.”
Futatia Tausili, 48, the Anaheim woman who reported Petelo missing, originally told police that she is Petelo’s aunt. Police have since confirmed that the two women are not related. Tausili could not be reached for comment earlier today.
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