Missing Oregon girl found after 15 years
By Associated Press, 11/7/00
VENETA, Ore. -- A girl missing for 15 years was reunited with her family after she wandered into a sheriff's office, authorities said.
Fallon Marie Hodges, 18, was allegedly kidnapped by her baby sitter in 1985, the Medford Mail Tribune and Portland's KOIN-TV reported Monday.
Police said Fallon had been living with a couple who left her in Lovelock, Nev., about 90 miles northeast of Reno, telling her they would contact her once they were safely away and tell her about her true identity.
Hodges waited for a month before contacting Nevada authorities, telling them she didn't know her real name -- but that it might be Fallon. She said she never attended school or visited a doctor.
Investigators checked birth records and found a Fallon Marie Hodges who was born in Eugene on Oct. 17, 1982. From there, they linked the girl to her mother, Eveleen Strempel of Veneta. The two were reunited Sunday.
Persian County Sheriff Ron Skinner said it wasn't clear whether Hodges had been abducted or abandoned.
The FBI launched an investigation Monday.
