On June 10, 2024, 19-year-old Haven Marie Shelton disappeared from her family's home in Kimberling City, Missouri. The alarm was raised the following morning when she was not found in her bedroom. Concern mounted quickly as her phone, wallet, debit card, and all of her personal belongings were left behind. At the time of her disappearance, she was described as being 5 feet to 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighing between 105 and 110 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.
It was believed she was wearing jeans and a black camouflage sweatshirt. The Stone County Sheriff's Office was notified and immediately began an investigation, entering her information into a nationwide missing persons database.
The search for Haven was extensive, involving law enforcement, family, friends, and the wider community. Her parents created a Facebook page called 'Bring Haven Home' to share information and generate leads. The Stone County Sheriff's Department, particularly Detective Dustin Wells, worked tirelessly on the case, following up on numerous leads and tips. There were potential sightings of her in the weeks following her disappearance in areas west of Branson in Taney County, but these did not immediately lead to her location. As weeks turned into months with no solid leads, the concern for her well-being grew, especially given that she had psychiatric issues requiring medication.
After 64 days, the search for Haven Shelton came to a positive conclusion. On August 14, 2024, she was found safe and healthy. A piece of mail that was mistakenly delivered to her family's home provided the crucial lead that led to her discovery in a city that has not been publicly disclosed. Her family expressed immense gratitude to law enforcement, the community, and everyone who assisted in the search. Her mother shared that Haven's journey had been 'wild' and that she had been assisted by kind strangers along the way. It was later revealed that members of a homeless population she was living amongst helped her connect with a church, which then got her into a safe facility. The family has requested privacy as Haven begins to heal, emphasizing that the details of her time while missing are her story to tell.Last Seen: Jun 10, 2024
