Port Orchard police are searching for 15-year-old Ashlynn Hanley, last seen on Dec. 10 wearing a pink puffy jacket and possibly heading toward Seattle. Surveillance footage shows her entering a 2011 Buick Enclave registered to 45-year-old Lavelle Cotton, whom police want to speak with. Ashlynn had been released from juvenile detention days earlier and was wearing an ankle monitor that was later removed; its last signal was near a bowling alley. Authorities say Cotton has spoken with police by phone but has not been charged, and the investigation remains active.
Missing Washington Teen: 15-Year-Old Ashlynn Hanley Last Seen Entering Man’s Buick; Police Seek Public Help
FacebookAshlynn Hanley
PORT ORCHARD, Wash. — Authorities are searching for 15-year-old Ashlynn Hanley, who was last seen on Dec. 10. Police released surveillance video showing Ashlynn getting into a 2011 Buick Enclave registered to 45-year-old Lavelle Cotton, and investigators are asking the public for help locating her and for anyone with information to come forward.
What Happened
According to the Port Orchard Police Department, Ashlynn was last observed on Dec. 10 wearing a pink puffy jacket and may have been heading toward Seattle. Surveillance footage released by authorities shows her entering the Buick Enclave on that day.
Ankle Monitor And Timeline
Ashlynn’s mother, Jade Hanley, told NBC that her daughter had been released from a juvenile detention center a few days before she disappeared and had been wearing an ankle monitor. Police say the device was later removed or cut off, and its last signal pinged near a bowling alley.
Person Of Interest
Investigators identified Lavelle Cotton as a person of interest. Cotton, who reportedly uses nicknames including "Money Making Prince" and "Little P Dog," is associated with the 2011 Buick Enclave seen in the footage. Port Orchard Deputy Chief Alan Iwashita told reporters,
Port Orchard Police Department/FacebookLavelle Cotton
"We’ve been in contact with an individual identifying as Mr. Cotton on the phone,"
Deputy Chief Iwashita added that officers had not yet spoken with Cotton in person. Authorities emphasize that Cotton has not been charged with a crime and the investigation remains active.
Physical Descriptions
Ashlynn is described as approximately 5-foot-1, with brown hair and brown eyes, and weighing about 102 lbs. Cotton is described as about 5-foot-9 and roughly 130 lbs.
What Authorities Are Asking
Police are urging anyone who saw Ashlynn on or after Dec. 10, who recognizes the vehicle or Lavelle Cotton, or who has dash-cam or surveillance footage from the area to contact the Port Orchard Police Department. Tips can be crucial in missing-person cases, and law enforcement asks callers to reference the case when providing information.
Note: The investigation is ongoing. Authorities stress that a person of interest is not the same as someone charged with a crime; inquiries remain part of standard investigative work.
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