Found Alive UT -Brent Neil Brown set to take a plea deal in kidnapping of college student Ephraim, 13 Dec 2021

[Greenbouncyball]

Do you know why Loa in particular? Or do folks just know that because authorities have been there asking around?

I do know that police were asking around down there. I don't know if that's because the trail stops in Loa or if that's just the last place people probably have cameras. Loa is the turnoff for Capitol Reef National Park and also where people around Fish Lake go to get supplies. Most of the year round residents are farmers and ranchers.

 

[wnk]

Taking a closer look at Snow Hall's east entrance on Google Maps and on Snow College's campus map (PDF here).

No dumpsters nearby, so it doesn't seem like she'd be taking out the trash. According to the school calendar (LINK), there was a "Late Night Breakfast" event scheduled from 9-11PM at the Greenwood Student Center, which is a few buildings southeast of the dorm - maybe that was her intended destination?

 

[whitelilac]

I don't see much lighting around the east entrance other than a street light on the road by that parking.

Do we know whether the maintenance facility and recycling plant across from Snow Hall have workers at night?

 

[CluelessWonder]

I didn't know about the breakfast event. That would make sense.

 

[Lyanna]

From the article above, security footage appears to show Madelyn leaving her dorm at 9:22 pm on Monday, December 13th with a plastic bag.

Is that a reflection of someone in a black jacket as if standing behind her, with back to her? When you zoom into pic and go up towards the top of the door?

 

[Greenbouncyball]

I don't see much lighting around the east entrance other than a street light on the road by that parking.

Do we know whether the maintenance facility and recycling plant across from Snow Hall have workers at night?

The recycling plant closed when Covid first started. While there may have been maintenance workers somewhere on campus at that time, they would not have been in the maintenance office building. That place clears out by 4 or 5 unless something is on fire. There probably were some students outside around that time, though.

 

[SimplyCass]

Is that a reflection of someone in a black jacket as if standing behind her, with back to her? When you zoom into pic and go up towards the top of the door?

I don't see anyone but the quality of the still isn't of the highest quality. If they released the raw video footage I'm sure we would be able to tell if there was someone there.

 

[Lyanna]

Hope she is found soon.

Thoughts with her family and friends

 

[Greenbouncyball]

This is not really an update exactly, but locals are getting their horse trailers and snowmobiles ready just in case a search is announced at some point. There is a lot of support waiting to spring into action for Maddie.

 

[whitelilac]

In 8 minutes:

Log into Facebook
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLBSOLrq606W7xzjrlvQRZw

We will be holding a live press conference with Snow College today at 4:00 PM

 

[wnk]

16 Dec 2021 press conference at Snow College (YouTube live stream from Snow College account)

Cook (president of Snow College) makes introductions.

Jonathan Allen (father) reads statement from family thanking college, law enforcement, media. They believe Maddie is "facing a major mental health crisis."

Jacob Allen (uncle) speaks asks public to respect Allen family's privacy. They have set up a tip line. They have set up a Facebook page and [email protected] as well.

Derrick Walk (police chief) speaks. They believe it is an isolated incident and that others are not in danger. The tip line number (Sanpete County's sheriff's office): 435-835-2345

Did she have a cell phone?
They believe she had her phone; will not be sharing messages at this time.

Was someone with Maddie?
They can only speculate at this point. They hope someone is with her, that they are friendly.

Destination?
They're not sure at this point where she was going.

Mike Daniels, dean of students at Snow College, asks for tips from anyone who might have seen something.

 

[Greenbouncyball]

16 Dec 2021 press conference at Snow College (YouTube live stream from Snow College account)

Cook (president of Snow College) makes introductions.

Jonathan Allen (father) reads statement from family thanking college, law enforcement, media. They believe Maddie is "facing a major mental health crisis."

Jacob Allen (uncle) speaks asks public to respect Allen family's privacy. They have set up a tip line. They have set up a Facebook page and [email protected] as well.

Derrick Walk (police chief) speaks. They believe it is an isolated incident and that others are not in danger. The tip line number (Sanpete County's sheriff's office): 435-835-2345

Did she have a cell phone?
They believe she had her phone; will not be sharing messages at this time.

Was someone with Maddie?
They can only speculate at this point. They hope someone is with her, that they are friendly.

Destination?
They're not sure at this point where she was going.

[didn't catch who the final speaker was], representing Snow College, asks for tips from anyone who might have seen something.

Final speaker was Mike Daniels, Dean of Students

 

[whitelilac]

Evidently there were messages on her phone they are not disclosing?
Maybe those messages point to a mental health crisis, and therefore "believe it is an isolated incident and that others are not in danger."?
I hope she is with someone trustworthy....and that person is helping her, in a good way.

 

[insearchoflight]

Not sounding good. So sad. She was so cute and optimistic in the YouTube videos. I, too, hope she is with someone nice. And they notify authorities now

 

[annpats]

Do you think she may be heading to an empty vacation home or cabin near the National Park?

The police mentioned 'messages' on her phone, which I hope would include everyone she's been communicating with, and therefore they would know if she is with someone or not.

Again, same on her Google Search if she's been checking out the locations of various places around Loa, etc., hopefully that will reveal something.

I hope this won't end up like another Maura Murray case. She crossed my mind when I first read this. There are similarities: College students, potential mental health problems, both disappears without telling anyone on a cold winter night.

 

[Turkeytrot]

I wonder if she has been actively using her phone, or if those were messages prior to her disappearing? I just hope she's safe. I wondered if mental health played a role when she mentioned having anxiety, depression, and OCD in one of her YouTube videos. I also wondered if there could have been a medication change or something that wasn't working well for her.

 

[whitelilac]

I'm trying to look at something positive. That she needed a break and left with someone who has good intentions, someone to talk things over with. Maybe neither of them know police are looking for her. Maybe they are kind of off the grid.
It's a better scenario then an abduction.

 

[wnk]

IMO, the fact that they're not organizing a search party in Ephraim is telling. LE must have reason to believe she's no longer on or near campus. And if they have cell phone pings outside of Ephraim, then Madelyn must have had some mode of transportation.

Possible modes of transportation in Ephraim at 9:22PM:

• Borrowed vehicle? If a friend had loaned her a vehicle, they'd likely have spoken out by now and we'd have a description of that vehicle, so I'm considering this unlikely.
  
• Public transportation? There is not, to my knowledge, any public transportation that goes through Ephraim (though @Greenbouncyball or some other local can correct me if I'm wrong)
• Lyft/Uber? Is it possible that she might have gotten a Lyft or Uber? (I know when Mackenzie Lueck was missing, LE was able to get that information very quickly, but maybe that was because her family knew that was her intention and which app she was using?)
• Riding as a passenger with someone else? But who? And where have they been the past three days? There are definitely parts of Utah around there where cell service is spotty, but she had to know her family would be worried about her.

 

[annpats]

I'm trying to look at something positive. That she needed a break and left with someone who has good intentions, someone to talk things over with. Maybe neither of them know police are looking for her. Maybe they are kind of off the grid.
It's a better scenario then an abduction.

But she left without a change of clothes. Or without anything really.

Plus if she needed a little break, then why not just tell a fellow student that you'll be gone for a few days??

She wasn't dressed for cold conditions either, and as she didn't have a car herself, someone must have taken her to near the National Park. It's a 2 hour drive.

And a mental health break doesn't mean radio silence for 3 days/nights.

Why would she put anyone through this worry? Especially her parents and greater Mormon family.....

 

[Greenbouncyball]

IMO, the fact that they're not organizing a search party in Ephraim is telling. LE must have reason to believe she's no longer on or near campus. And if they have cell phone pings outside of Ephraim, then Madelyn must have had some mode of transportation.

Possible modes of transportation in Ephraim at 9:22PM:

• Borrowed vehicle? If a friend had loaned her a vehicle, they'd likely have spoken out by now and we'd have a description of that vehicle, so I'm considering this unlikely.
  
• Public transportation? There is not, to my knowledge, any public transportation that goes through Ephraim (though @Greenbouncyball or some other local can correct me if I'm wrong)
• Lyft/Uber? Is it possible that she might have gotten a Lyft or Uber? (I know when Mackenzie Lueck was missing, LE was able to get that information very quickly, but maybe that was because her family knew that was her intention and which app she was using?)
• Riding as a passenger with someone else? But who? And where have they been the past three days? There are definitely parts of Utah around there where cell service is spotty, but she had to know her family would be worried about her.

There is no public transportation in or out of Ephraim. There is no Uber/Lyft. There are no rental cars (not that she'd be old enough) and there are no rental scooters or bikes. Basically you need to have your own car/ATV or you need to catch a ride with someone else.

Eta: I do not know if she knows how to drive