Police ‘not going to stop’ looking for teen who’s been missing 7 weeks
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IDAHO FALLS — It’s been 46 days since Matthew Jedediah “Jed” Hall walked out of his Idaho Falls home, got into a car and drove away.
Nobody has heard from or seen the 16-year-old since the morning of Jan. 22. He was carrying his cell phone and at least one firearm, according to police, and was driving a silver 2009 Nissan Versa hatchback with Idaho license plate number 8B EF732.
Investigators have pinged Jed’s phone every 15 minutes since he vanished but there have been no responses, Idaho Falls Police Spokeswoman Holly Cook tells EastIdahoNews.com. Officers believe the teenager may be camping, as he loved being outdoors, but they have no concrete information about where he could be.
Despite the lack of leads, police are not giving up on finding Jed.
“Our detectives are determined to do whatever they can to bring him home alive and well,” Cook says. “They are diligently searching and are not going to stop.”
Jed was not carrying bank or credit cards, as far police know, and most of his personal belongings were left at home.
The Idaho Falls Police Department has sent an “attempt to locate” notice to law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and Idaho Fish and Game, across the northwestern states.
Police ask anyone who ventures into remote areas to keep an eye out for Jed and for the public to continue to share his photograph on social media. A Facebook group called Missing – Jed Hall has been created with photos and information about the teenager.
If anyone does spot the teen or vehicle, officials say to immediately call Idaho Falls Police Department dispatch at (208) 529-1200 and do not approach the young man or the vehicle.