Facebook plays big part in locating missing Brevard County teen

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Brevard County investigators are crediting Facebook for helping them reunite a missing teen with her family.

A good Samaritan saw a post on Facebook and recognized the suspect accused of taking 14-year-old Camryn Sutton. That person called authorities and even followed the suspect until deputies showed up.

Camryn's mother, Melissa Sutton, told Channel 9 she's relieved to be holding her daughter once again.

"Until I actually had my arms around her, I couldn't believe it," she said.

Sutton had been searching for her daughter since she disappeared Thursday. She hadn't heard from her so she called the Brevard County Sheriff's Office and then went straight to social media.

"We went on Facebook trying to find out if anyone knows this person, where she might be," said Sutton.

Sheriff's deputies did the same, also posting pictures of Camryn and 18-year-old Bobby Maas on her Facebook page, because they believed she was with Haas.

"We needed the help of the public," said Lt. Mike Scully of the Brevard County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies said a man noticed the post on their Facebook page and was able to recognize Camryn, Maas and the vehicle they were believed to be in. That's when he decided get in his vehicle and follow the car all while on the phone with police.

"This person immediately called 911, communicated it to law enforcement and then followed the vehicle to a home in Titusville," said Scully.

Haas was arrested at the home, authorities said.

Camryn told authorities she befriended Maas but had no idea he had planned on taking her on a trip out of the state.

Scully credits social media and the public's help in finding the missing girl.

"The best mechanism that we have to solicit the public's help is to utilize social media," he said.

The Brevard County Sheriff's Office has only been using social media for about a year.

WFTV