WA WA - Tyler Christensen, 16, Mukilteo, 19 April 2016

[essieB33]

Yes, someone from the church was in a news article (it's way further up the thread) as having said Tyler always tells him when he's on his way and he didn't tell him he was coming this time.

I thought he told his church youth group when he was coming, but can't remember if we know if the Slavic church has confirmed ever having him there. Just thinking maybe he had been saying he was going to Slavic church for some time but was instead using that time for other things?

 

[KentuckyKaren]

I thought he told his church youth group when he was coming, but can't remember if we know if the Slavic church has confirmed ever having him there. Just thinking maybe he had been saying he was going to Slavic church for some time but was instead using that time for other things?

Have also suspected this.. Toevlugsoord, "great minds think alike!"

 

[toevlugsoord]

New update on the main public FB page which doesn't provide any new information...they're still hoping he comes home soon and still searching. Wish they would share if they had absolutely any new details at all. I suspect there's quite a bit we don't know to begin with, however.

 

[toevlugsoord]

Toevlugsoord-- I wondered too about the comments the sister made about the boyfriend... Could this even have been a coded message for Tyler? It's a stretch but who knows? It seemed an odd thing to go into detail about. Although it could have just been her reflecting on their last conversation before he left. The other piece that fits in here is that at one point the dad told searchers to go home. Sounds like this was an angry reaction to something investigators had shown or told him... Maybe that was when he found out a possible reason Tyker left and initially reacted with "then let him stay gone" or a similar
sentiment. TOTALLY SPECULATING here. Just seems to make sense of the puzzle.

I agree, and what also seems to mesh with this is their church (Heritage Baptist) and his youth group (Spring of Life Slavic Baptist) have nothing at all on their sites etc. about him! It's like he has no ties there. It's like they know there's something underlying here that is causing him to be gone that perhaps doesn't jive with their beliefs.

Gosh, I just feel for the poor kid!!!

 

[AuLait]

New update on the main public FB page which doesn't provide any new information...they're still hoping he comes home soon and still searching. Wish they would share if they had absolutely any new details at all. I suspect there's quite a bit we don't know to begin with, however.

I unfollowed the page. While I have lots of sympathy for the parents, the vagueness is really frustrating. I have seen posts from people on the page that still seem to think he was taken or the family has no clue what happened. I feel like that is really unfair and the family needs to clearly state he left on his own. They have hinted around it but why not just say what officials determined? "He planned to run away. We still want to find him because we are worried." Feels like there is still some denial and reputation protecting going on and I have no patience for that. I will keep my eyes open for him, even though I would bet he is out of the area.

 

[searchfortyler]

I unfollowed the page. While I have lots of sympathy for the parents, the vagueness is really frustrating. I have seen posts from people on the page that still seem to think he was taken or the family has no clue what happened. I feel like that is really unfair and the family needs to clearly state he left on his own. They have hinted around it but why not just say what officials determined? "He planned to run away. We still want to find him because we are worried." Feels like there is still some denial and reputation protecting going on and I have no patience for that. I will keep my eyes open for him, even though I would bet he is out of the area.

I have read this forum since the day Tyler went missing. I appreciate all of the concern and have been impressed with the respect with which you all have treated the family for the most part. However, it is so interesting to me that you all have basically come to the conclusion that it is Tyler's parents who are being secretive and not sharing information that you are "sure" they have. I also have to disagree with many of the conclusions that Tyler's family was a very overbearing, religious family. I know for a fact that their children do have a lot of freedom. I think that every one assumes that this is a very conservative homeschooling family that doesn't let their children out into the world. You assume that if they did find that one of their children was struggling that they would cover it up or that they are too embarrassed to say what "really happened", enough so that they would sacrifice the safety of their child. I understand that this might be the case in many families…especially some of you who have shared you own stories…but I know first hand that this isn't the case with Tyler's family. It seems that the assumption is that Tyler either shared information with his family that was unacceptable, and therefore had to run, or that he was not able to be himself in the "overbearing" family and so ran, or that new information has surfaced that they are ashamed of. One thing that I do know is that many kids are far more web savvy than their parents and often get involved in dangerous relationships or become victims of bullying all without their parents ever even knowing. What if this was the case with Tyler? What if there was someone else in his life that was treating him poorly and he hid that from his parents. What if his own shame and inner struggle kept him from saying a word? I know having teenagers of my own that it can be a very trying time. As close as you "think" you are with them…they don't tell you everything. I think this is especially the case with boys. I have experienced issues in my own family where a sibling was involved in things online which led to a downward spiral. I remember when we found out, and this was not until a major crisis, we were shocked. There weren't a lot of warning signs. There was nothing my parents were hiding or keeping secret, and it was a long process before all the details were even out in the open. It was like a long slow process in finding out the truth of what my sibling had been involved in and what he was doing and he was shown huge support and love along the way. So I think it is wrong to jump to conclusions that they are hiding something because they aren't giving information. What if they are giving all the information they can? I believe it is very possible that initially they truly believed he could never have run away. He wasn't in a huge power struggle with his parents. He was happy and adventurous, with your normal teenage struggles. So their initial fear was injury or foul play. I know in our own situation we knew nothing before the fact. But then slowly things began to come to light. People shared info with us. We started to dig into things that we had never thought we needed to before. I believe this is the case with this family as well. Does that mean they need to broadcast it to the world in order for people to keep looking? Especially when non of it is coming first hand from Tyler? They have a surveillance camera telling them he went the opposite way of what they "thought" he would go had he been going to youth group. That is all. Maybe that means he "planned to runaway" according to officials. Does that mean they are hiding a whole bunch of information? I don't believe so. What if people have come forward with info that he struggled in areas or was sad or hurting or had questionable friends? Often friends know more than parents. At that point they have more information…but is it really enough to say "We know he ran on his own and is fine?". No. He could have run to hurt himself. That is terrifying to a parent. He could have been lured by someone. But if they don't know for sure….how are they to give the public more information. I think they might know things now that they didn't know before Tyler went missing…but I believe none of it is for sure. It is all speculation. There really are no leads other than a few things here and there…maybe comments from friends or other family members. Tyler was very adventurous. The day before he went missing he posted on his instagram a picture of him in a motorcycle desert race and said he planned on doing the next one soon. He went hiking with friends and loved the out of doors. His family has had the trial of a lifetime here…not knowing where he is or if he is even alive. They are hoping that people will post all over the state and even elsewhere. Does that mean they are hiding information by being vague? Maybe things are vague for even them! To me it means they hope he is found safe and this could be much bigger than they ever dreamed? I also wanted to clear up something. When they posted on face book for people who were not already searching to stay home…that had nothing to do with his father being angry…and everything to do with a poorly planned search party, led by a family member. However, it was getting dark and no one was really there to guide or lead a search and so it was overwhelming and they didn't want to endanger people as it was getting dark. That is all. Nothing deeper than that. I know because I was there. The group was also initially kept private because of cruel trollers, and people giving false leads just to hurt the family and was quickly changed to public when they decided they didn't care what people said. They just want him found.

 

[KentuckyKaren]

Thank you, "searchfortyler", for this reality check. As we all know, what is posted on here by those of us following the story are primarily guesses/hunches. And we are connecting only the dots we have. The truth is, we are concerned for this young man, and we would all love to hear this story have a happy ending. Wanting to solve mysteries is a normal desire, especially when one has caught your eye (or heart) for some reason, as this one has for me. I have a son Tyler's age and I can't imagine this family's intense angst and desperation . So even while I, along with others, have speculated on thiis forum, I am grateful to this poster for his/her input and corrections. I am glad to hear that Tyler's family was not an overbearing one and that they are not likely hiding anything they know, but rather still trying to unravel all the pieces themselves. I will continue to pray for Tyler and check on here to see if anything is figured out, and hopefully, soon, we will get to read that he is found safe!

 

[JanetElaine]

Thanks, SearchforTyler. (Not quoting because of length). I've said before that I'm concerned about him having met someone online (even if this someone is just what he considers a good friend) and ran off to meet them, or was lured to meet them. That is one I still really fear. If LE has determined Tyler is a runaway, he still should be found. He's 16 - he doesn't just get to take off. Especially since there is no way IMO that they can rule out foul play. He's a minor and no matter why they think he left - they need to look for him. I've also tried to say that if he's a runaway, it doesn't mean it has to do with his parents or home situation. If he's running away from something, he would per definition run away from home/his parents, because that's where teens happen to live. Tyler having been gone for so long worries me especially if that were the case. Trying to run away from things because they became overwhelming only leads to more trouble (running into the wrong crowd etc.).

Tyler, IF you are reading this - please contact http://www.1800runaway.org/

They will help you figure things out. Nobody thinks badly of you, I promise. Please be safe.

 

[toevlugsoord]

Thanks so much for the new insights, searchfortyler.
I think what happens here in WebSleuths, and I've been here many years, is we get caught up in trying to find sense in it all. Finding out what caused someone to act a certain way, etc. It seems like there are puzzle pieces to put together here, but perhaps they are the wrong pieces or even the wrong puzzle.
Please share any more insights that you can, as I think we've all grown to really care about the safety and well-being of this boy!

 

[toevlugsoord]

Really open/sincere update on the official FB page, 1 hour ago (7pm Pacific).

 

[JanetElaine]

MSM and LE seem to have gone silent as I and many others feared. And it probably is a reflection of the amount of effort that is now being put in to find Tyler. Runaways need found too... especially since they haven't released anything conclusive to determine he indeed ran away completely voluntarily. Sigh.

 

[KentuckyKaren]

Yes, the silence is discouraging, isn't it? I used to think that if a teen had run away, they were probably fine and where they wanted to be. But I was SO ignorant. Runaway teens are targets for all kinds of horrible things. And as long as they are falling through the cracks because they are "runaways" or "left of their own volition" we as a society are failing our kids. "Voluntarily leaving" is in no way an indication they are safe. At the same time, if they don't want to be found, what is LE able to do? So sad. ��

 

[toevlugsoord]

Wow, check out the Help Find Tyler page! Credible sighting by the ferries...check it out for more details!

https://www.facebook.com/Help-Find-Tyler-512302558976144/?fref=nf

 

[krig101]

Wow, check out the Help Find Tyler page! Credible sighting by the ferries...check it out for more details!

https://www.facebook.com/Help-Find-Tyler-512302558976144/?fref=nf

Wow. Glad the man seen the flyer. So much time has passed. Hope this is where Tyler is and hope he is okay!

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[JanetElaine]

Direct link to the post: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=517555965117470&id=512302558976144

I was a little bit disappointed to see the sighting was from April 19th but they're right - it may help narrowing down the area where Tyler could be, plus it is somewhat encouraging that he apparently did plan this and came across as upbeat. Encouraging in the way that he's not 'on the run' in a panicked or depressed state and possibly less likely to put himself in danger. Not sure what I'm trying to word. Hope it comes across.

 

[Kodiak]

This is good news for his family. I pray and hope he is safe, especially if he's hitchhiking in our day and age. Interesting as he was inquiring about Shelton. It's possible if he was heading south during those first couple days, he could be in Oregon by now. I also wonder if there was video footage of him on the Kingston Ferry run?

 

[toevlugsoord]

I remember reading a WebSleuths forum on the missing mom Jennifer Huston from Oregon who was thought to have been spotted on a WA ferry. They indicated there's surveillance tapes that they were searching to see if it was her. So I do think they have tapes, but I'm not sure how far back they go, like maybe they only keep the last two weeks or something.

I wonder if he had friends in Shelton or some sort of connection. This is definitely intriguing and very encouraging!

 

[JanetElaine]

:bump:

 

[lismo]

A new article was posted on Fox Q13 tonight:

New clue in case of missing Mukilteo teen who disappeared 3 weeks ago:
http://q13fox.com/2016/05/10/new-clue-in-case-of-missing-mukilteo-teen-who-disappeared-3-weeks-ago/

 

[JanetElaine]

A new article was posted on Fox Q13 tonight:

New clue in case of missing Mukilteo teen who disappeared 3 weeks ago:
http://q13fox.com/2016/05/10/new-clue-in-case-of-missing-mukilteo-teen-who-disappeared-3-weeks-ago/

My heart jumped... but it's the same news we got a couple of days ago (that he was hitchhiking). Thank you for posting, lismo. It's Q13 Fox that's portraying this as new info... a little bit bummed about that, but at the same time very grateful they posted it at all and are keeping Tyler's name and face out there.

ETA My apologies if I sound negative. I really am happy that they are reporting about it. Publicity is nothing but GOOD. Was just hoping it was another new clue. I'm worried about Tyler.