Runaways found safe

ST. IGNATIUS — Four teens missing since July from the Pinehaven Christian Children’s Ranch in St. Ignatius have been confirmed found and safe, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Det. Mike Gehl.

“As far as I can remember, this was the longest kids have been missing,” Gehl said of the runaways from the ranch. “One [teen] had been in contact with his mom and his mom got bus fare for the kid to get back to Indiana.”

Chance Salyers and Adam Irwin, 17, both of Illinois, ran away from the ranch July 15. Police in Kalispell found Irwin earlier this month and Salyers spoke with his mother about picking him up in Kalispell in early August as well.

Thomas Morson, 15, of Indiana and 14-year-old Cody Thompson, of Illinois, ran away from the ranch July 26 and Gehl said they were found in Missoula just last week. Acting director of the ranch Jonathan Larsson said they were notified that the last two missing youth had been found on the night of the 13th.

All four teens have been transported back to their respective home states.

“There didn’t appear to be a connection between the two [pairs of runaways],” Gehl said.

Gehl said approximately one or two children run away from the ranch each year. He said they are troubled youth that are not necessarily used to a structured lifestyle that includes chores and punishment. Most cited homesickness as the reason they ran away, Gehl said.

“It’s unfortunate what’s going on, that the kids ran away,” Gehl said. “Many aren’t used to being told to shovel horse manure if they mess up.”

Gehl said there are 75 to 80 kids at the ranch at any one time from all over the country. They are voluntarily admitted to the ranch, either by their parents or themselves, and are taught Christian values in a ranch-type setting.