Maliika Andrus Missing: Washington State Police Search For Teen With Developmental Disabilities

Developmentally Disabled Girl Missing In Washington State

Police in Washington state are searching for a 17-year-old girl with developmental disabilities who disappeared from a group home.

Maliika Andrus, who police say has the mental capacity of a 9-year-old, was last seen Sunday at a Bonney Lake-area group home. Bonney Lake is located about 18 miles southeast of Tacoma.

According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office, staff members at the group home believe Andrus tampered with an alarm on her bedroom window and left the facility at about 6:35 a.m. Andrus had not been at the facility long, police said.

Search and rescue teams spent much of the day Sunday combing the area around the group home. Attempts by dog handlers to pick up Andrus' trail were unsuccessful, police said. The search was expected to resume Monday morning.

Authorities are concerned for the teen's welfare because she is unfamiliar with the area and lacks skills to care for herself. Andrus takes medication and investigators fear she might try to harm herself, police said.

Maliika Andrus is an African-American female, 5 foot 6 inches, 115 lbs., with black braided hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black shirt and multicolored-striped pajama pants.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Andrus is asked to call the Pierce County Sheriff's Office at 253-798-7530.

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RAjena Linson

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