Police launched a search for Dania Hernandez Monday after the teen did not return home from a middle school in Hamilton.
HAMILTON -- Dania Hernandez, the 13-year-old from Hamilton reported missing on Monday, was found safe in Philadelphia Wednesday evening and the man with her was arrested, Hamilton police said in a statement.
Dania HernandezHamilton police say they reunited Dania with her concerned family members following her discovery. Police did not say exactly where Dania and Lance Jyrkinen were located.
Jyrkinen, 18, has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child, Hamilton police said. He was in Philadelphia police custody Wednesday night.
Police say Jyrkinen, from Owensboro, Kentucky, has a recent address in the 800 block of South Broad Street in Trenton.
Police launched a search for Dania Monday after the teen did not return home from her middle school in Hamilton.
On Tuesday, police said Dania was likely with Jyrkinen.
Lance JyrkinenThe two appeared to have connected through social media and were seen together in Hamilton Monday after school, police had said.
The Hernandez family issued a statement late Tuesday, saying: "We miss her, we want her to come home and we want to help her."
Earlier Wednesday, Dania's sister Corina Hernandez said family and friends were searching all over the region, trying to retrace her steps and visit locations where they suspected the two could be heading.
Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.