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Missing Teen Found SAFE in DeKalb

Courtney Jean Arp, the 15-year-old Lockport teen who has been missing since Jan. 6, was found safe in DeKalb early Sunday morning.

Update, 12:09 p.m., Jan. 13 -- Courtney Jean Arp, 15, of Lockport, who has been missing for over a week, was found safe in DeKalb, IL, early Sunday morning.

Courtney's mother posted a message on the Missing Cases Facebook page:

"We got her !!!!!! Dekalb police dept thank IOU!!!!!"

Other sources close to the family confirmed that the Lockport girl was found safe. Courtney was visiting her dad in Worth for the Christmas holidays when she was believed to have run away.

Original post: Worth police continue to comb through leads about a missing Lockport teen.

Investigators have ruled out photos and video footage that were purported to be 15-year-old Courtney Jean Arp, who was last seen on Jan. 6 in Worth.

“We’re receiving tips from the public and we’re running those down,” said Worth Chief Martin Knolmayer on Friday. “So far, they have not turned out to be her.”

Family members took to social media last week, hoping to generate information about her whereabouts. Police believe Arp, a sophomore at Lockport High School, ran away and are treating this as a missing person case.

It doesn't appear Arp was abducted, Knolmayer said.

If anyone has seen Courtney, please contact the Worth Police Department at 708-448-3979 or the Lockport Police Department at 815-838-2131; or her family at 630-248-0481.

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MsBach January 14, 2013 at 02:12 pm
Punished, yes. If she is not punished for the above stated, she will be just another teen who sees no repercussions for their actions. Counseling, of course. Both can be done for the betterment of this young girl.
Lynn January 14, 2013 at 02:18 pm
Yes Jennifer I "read the article" I posted that question to the original article b4 it was UPDATED, My question wasn't "approved" until after the update. Thank God she is home safe.
Mildred Frackenbottom January 14, 2013 at 02:33 pm
Glad to hear she's safe and sticky back at home.
sassy January 14, 2013 at 03:14 pm
TEENAGERS GET AWAY WITH TO MUCH...WHY..BECAUSE THE LAW SAYS CHILDREN HAVE RIGHTS! SO YOU GROUND THEM FOR MISBEHAVING AND THE CHILD TELL'S YOU ..MAKE ME STAY IN! IF YOU GRAB THE CHILD FROM WALKING OUT THE
DOOR THE CHILD THREATS PARENTS THAT THEY WILL CALL POLICE AND SAY YOU HIT THEM.CHILDREN NOW ADAYS HAVE THE LAW ON THEIR SIDE..AND THEY KNOW HOW TO USE IT.PARENTS HAVE TO SIT AND WORRY THAT THEY WILL COME HOME AND BE SAFE.CHILDREN HAVE NO RESPECT FOR PARENTS AUTHORITY. BECAUSE PARENTS NO LONGER HAVE NONE...THE TEENAGER DOES.SO THANK THE COURT SYSTEM FOR THAT! Glad she is home.maybe with all this coverage on her missing ...She may have learn a lesson! Now reward teenagers and buy them Car's and new Cell phones!
Bethany January 14, 2013 at 08:32 pm
Wow! Someone's bitter.
TheUNowen January 14, 2013 at 08:41 pm
@Bethany Wow someone (you) have no life or kids
@sassy I agree 100%!
I. J. January 14, 2013 at 11:56 pm
Problems don't start over night. It happens over the years as they grow. As a parent you are well within your right to discipline your child. There is a huge difference between punishment and abuse. Most parents figure that out before their kid learns to walk. The others just call the police to intervene and trust me, the cycle gets old.
Stepdad January 15, 2013 at 02:20 pm
FYI folks ...I am Courtney's stepdad. To make blanket statements besides "I am glad she is found" without knowing what happened is irresponsible by those above. Our child was lured into a secret relationship with a 20 year old psycho that had a long record with the police. She thought she was in love and that he loved her. She was talked into sneaking out of her dad's house. From the moment he took her phone (paid by me!) and pawned it she was his semi-willing captive. If Dekalb police did not randomly run a plate on the car they were in, our girl would be somewhere between Chicago and California right now and our chances of finding her slim-to-none. Remember ...you never know the whole story. She is a loved child and made a stupid choice that will haunt her forever.
Rusty Shackleford January 15, 2013 at 02:40 pm
Thank u Stepdad, speculation is opinion,not facts.And i wish more people would understand that old saying that says assuming makes an ass out of u not me....
Sara January 15, 2013 at 03:01 pm
"Rusty Shackleford"? Nice choice of the name.
Rusty Shackleford January 15, 2013 at 03:12 pm
c what i mean? doesnt matter what my name is, ITS NOT RELEVANT. What is relevant SARA,(if that is YOUR name) is that people love to assume the worst, and it shouldnt be that way. Young girls are easily swayed by love in adolescent years, we've all experienced puppy love if your fortunate enough to make it to mid adulthood. So u can try to be a tad bit more sympathetic to the young lady and her family b4 passing judgement. Btw, i happen to love my name, it fits the skin im in sweetie.....
Sara January 15, 2013 at 03:16 pm
I meant nothing bad about commenting on your name. I like it. I know where it comes from. Great show.
Rusty Shackleford January 15, 2013 at 03:25 pm
@Sara, thata girl, i meant no harm or foul either. :) if only everyone could respond as respectfullly as u just did ma'am, there'd be no need for Rusty to speak or exist. Dont u agree? Common courtesy seems to be a luxury not too many can afford these days, though its as free as the air we breathe.....
Sara January 15, 2013 at 03:52 pm
The problem with online comments is you don't have the tone of voice to sense when someone is sincere or sarcastic. On this site, everyone seems to go for the throat, so I don't blame you for thinking it was sarcasm.
Rusty Shackleford January 15, 2013 at 04:21 pm
I agree, which is why i try to comment briefly, concisely and to the point without intentionally and unnecessarily causing hurt or ill will to anyone. Everyone is entitled to free speech in this country, but there is a such thing as having tact, and unfortunately some people say things i believe to get a reaction or feed off the feelings of others. Either that or its a deep underlying issue that i wont assume about because id be stateing an opinion and not a fact. if i came off as rude, i apologize, but since you stated very eloquently before that u understood why i may have thought u were being condescending, i know u understand.....:)
Sara January 15, 2013 at 05:05 pm
Rusty - You can just post 'Hi Everybody!' and someone will complain about it.
Val January 16, 2013 at 01:26 am
The Stepdad is correct. Everyone begins to judge before the full story. I do have to say I frown upon those that investigate and post stories on here and do not include the real story or at least continue to update the story with new findings. By leaving the story half done it allows people to give incorrect and ignorant opinions.
TheUNowen January 16, 2013 at 01:46 am
Puppy love with someone who is supposedly psychopathic and has had multiple run inns with police?! Geez this guy must be better looking than Justin Beiber or whatever male 'role model' girls these days are masturbating to
Avni Shah January 16, 2013 at 05:22 pm
Unfortunately you don't know the real story, I do, so don't judge- you are wrong!
Bob January 16, 2013 at 05:46 pm
Anybody have this guy's name and whether he was arrested? I can think of about a half dozen charges that would apply, starting with "contributing to the delinquency of a minor" and going as high as kidnapping or abduction if she asked to be returned home and he refused.
Seems we have a lot of "twenty somethings" really screwing up teenagers in our area, like the guy and girl in Palos Hills that gave heroin to a 15 year old and almost killed her by OD. Stepdad, you may want to find out if this guy was on probation for other offenses. If so,he may have violated the conditions of his probation and could be headed back to the slammer. My guess is that you wouldn't have a problem with this punk doing some hard time after all he put your family through.
Magoo January 18, 2013 at 02:43 am
So happy to hear that Courtney is safe! I can't believe all of the negativity passed on to the family. This girl is only 17 and vulnerable. I know when I was 17 some of the choices I made weren't the best. As parents we try to raise the kids the best we can and hope our kids are safe. There's no way to know everything they are doing at 17! God bless the whole family!
TheUNowen January 19, 2013 at 02:02 am
She is kinda pretty but too bad looks aren't everything, shes obviously either got shit for brian's or serious mental problems
TheUNowen January 19, 2013 at 02:04 am
Yeah, only a good parent would know everything about their kid, and sadly there are so few anymore!
K.B.C. January 19, 2013 at 02:53 pm
First of all, I'm glad she is safe.. As a mom I would have been worried sick. However let's all admit what a foolish thing this girl did. She should be held accountable for her actions by maybe doing some community service in a domestic shelter and therefore maybe waking her up to what could have really happened. She is not a child by any means at 17. I am sure if this guy was such a delinquent to begin with her parents were not happy that she was "in love" with him to begin with. No matter, she didn't listen and still though she knew best as most teenagers do. By not holding her accountable for her actions she will never grow up and be a responsible young adult like she should be at this point. I know it is hard to accept but a little tough love is just what she appears to need. In any case, I'm truly glad she is safe and sound at home. Let's hope she stays there long enough to realize who really loves her and wants the best for her.
Steph January 23, 2013 at 09:46 pm
I'd like to take the time to say this is none of anyones business. You have no clue what she or the family is going through. Shame on you for saying she deserves tough love, community service etc.
sweet heart January 24, 2013 at 02:12 am
You are totally right Step dad.
TheUNowen January 24, 2013 at 02:22 am
sweet heart, please proof read and spell check cause none of us know what the f*** you're saying!
TheUNowen January 24, 2013 at 02:23 am
grounded for life, spayed, tried as an adult, etc. right?
K.B.C. January 24, 2013 at 05:31 am
Really? None of anyone's business? Who made it the public's business? Let's see... Was it the teenager who ran away? Perhaps the parents who begged for the public's help? Wait, maybe the police who "ASKED" for the communities help when the family came to them or perhaps the ones who requested it be circulated on Facebook. If you ask for the community to help, then when the truth comes out the community is definitely entitled to their opinions. Everybody and every family is, was, or has gone through something. The difference is knowing when to seek help BEFORE it becomes a bigger issue that involves communities, police, and tax payers dollars. I am still relieved that she was safely found but I still stand by my prior opinion that this teenager needs to be made aware that SHE is accountable for HER actions. Lets hope she gets some help in understanding how she could have handled the situation differently.
jordan May 10, 2013 at 12:48 am
Lol Sara. You are right
...some people are just itching to complain. Glad she is safe!
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