Teenager was listed as 'runaway' at time of disappearance

GAINESVILLE - Hall County authorities said Tuesday the 16-year-old girl who was found Monday on Hope Road and claimed she had been kidnapped was listed as a runaway when she disappeared.

The girl had been missing since February 10.

Capt. Ed Barfield of the Hall County Sheriff's Department says the girl contacted her boyfriend and some other people while she was missing.

Investigators did enter her into the missing and endangered children's system, but because she was listed as a "runaway" and not "missing," took no further action.

They are, however, still investigating her claim that she was kidnapped.