Teen Who Ran Away From Mooresville Group Home Found

MOORESVILLE, NC — Hours after authorities asked for help locating a 16-year-old male who ran away from a Mooresville group home, he was located in Morganton, according to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday.

Nathan Lee Holtsclaw, 16, was reported missing June 10 after he walked away from the group home on foot. He “is believed to have obtained a ride away from the area,” ICSO said in a June 24 statement.

The sheriff's office said he was last seen wearing a gray hoodie, black T-shirt and jeans. He is described as a white male with brown hair and brown eyes, about 6-foot tall and 240 pounds. He has tattoos on the back of both hands.

“Nathan Holtsclaw is in the custody of Burke Child Protective Services, and has a history of running away from placement,” ICSO said. During an earlier runaway attempt, he was located with family in Georgia. He also has family in the area of Mortanton, North Carolina.

“Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Detectives have gathered information the juvenile is safe, however he is actively avoiding being located by law enforcement or Child Protective Services,” ICSO said.

Around 5 a.m. Tuesday morning, Holtsclaw was located in Morganton with a family member, the sheriff's office said.

The sheriff’s office said anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office at 704-878-3100 and/or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.