Runaway Wisconsin Teen Girl Caught in New Mexico
She and four others were apprehended running from stolen minivan.
Dec. 28, 2013— -- A runaway Wisconsin teenage girl was reportedly captured in New Mexico, a day after she eluded Colorado police in a high speed chase, allegedly helped steal a second car and head for California.
Breanna Gomez, 15, had been missing from her Eau Claire, Wisc., home since Dec. 23. Police captured her, her boyfriend, Spencer Linville, 16, and two other teenage males, apprehended in Raton, N.M., police told ABC affiliate KGMH-TV in Denver.
The search for the group, who police believed were heading to Riverside, Calif., was considered especially pressing since Gomez is insulin dependent, her grandfather, Jerry Carpenter, told ABCNews.com.
"Her insulin was left [in the car]. If she doesn't have that, she will die," Carpenter said.
Colorado police allege Gomez and three other teens outran them Thursday night during a stolen-car chase that crossed two counties.
Weld County Sheriff's Office spokesman Steve Reams told ABCNews.com that detectives believe the teens abandoned the vehicle, then took off in a stolen light blue Chrysler Town & Country minivan.
The minivan was spotted today in Raton, and the five teens were apprehended after a short chase on foot, police officials told KMGH-TV.
Gomez had just been released after serving six months in juvenile detention for various run-ins with police and cutting classes, her grandfather said.
"She's been troubled for a while. We've been trying to help her," Carpenter said. "She was supposed to come and see us on Sunday [and] there was even talk of placing her with us.
"We love her and we just want her to get treatment," Carpenter said. "Of course she is going to have to pay the price for whatever she's doing. She's responsible for her actions, but that does not mean we love her any less."
ABC News' Clayton Sandell contributed to this report.
Related Stories
ABC News Live