Missing Edgemont Teen Found in Manhattan Church

Christine Ji Woo Kang, the Edgemont teen who has been missing for nine days, was found in a church in Manhattan on  Sunday night January 11. Greenburgh Police Chief Chris McNerney announced that Kang was found at a church right near Grand Central Station.

According to the Edgemont Community Council, when Kang went to St. Agnes Church at 143 East 43rd Street to ask if she could stay there overnight someone recognized her from one of the "missing" flyers that was posted around the city and alerted police. At the time of the announcement, the Greenburgh Police were en route to the city to pick her up.  McNerney gave credit to hundreds of volunteers from Edgemont who searched for Kang in Manhattan and New Jersey. Due to their efforts to spread the word, the missing girl was found.

Surveillance videotape showed Kang leaving Grand Central at 11 pm on January 2. She was located just blocks away from the station. It is not known at this time how she passed the intervening nine days.

After learning the Kang had been found, her parents issued the following statement: "Dear All Members of the Edgemont Family, Our family would like to express our whole-hearted thanks to all of the members of the Edgemont community. We have been, and still are, in great pain, but the tremendous outpouring of support for Christine and our family from the community have enormously helped us to keep strong and continue the pertinacious search for our daughter. We will never stop our efforts until we find her. All of your help and support has been beyond our family's imagination. We are so proud to be a part of this amazing community. Thank you all very much!"

Here is the press release from the Greenburgh Police:

"This department is pleased to announce that 16 year old Edgemont teen Christine (Ji Woo) Kang has been located in Manhattan at Saint Agnes Church 143 East 43rd Street. Christine is safe and in the custody of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department. Greenburgh Detectives are on their way to pick up Christine at this time. The combined effort of the Greenburgh Police, MTA police, members of the Edgemont Cares Community and the media resulted in an individual at Saint Agnes Church recognizing Christine from a "Missing Flyer" and contacting police. Over 200 individuals from the Edgemont community responded to Manhattan yesterday to post "Missing Flyers". This initiative was organized by Edgemont Cares Community representative Aubrey Graf-Daniels."

In an email to the Greenburgh Community from Town Supervisor Paul Feiner, he describes how the girls parents learned that their daughter was safe.

Feiner said, "A very happy ending to a stressful week. Greenburgh Police Chief Chris McNerney, Edgemont Cares Community representative Aubrey Graf-Daniels and the parents of missing teen Christine (Ji Woo) Kang and I were meeting to discuss strategies to enhance the chances of finding Christine early this evening. Toward the end of our meeting we received a phone call from one of the Greenburgh police detectives assigned to the case----Christine is safe. It's a moment one never forgets. The parents, Min Jong Kang and Hyeeun Rose Kwon- were overjoyed. Lots of hugging and tears of joy.

Christine was located in Manhattan at Saint Agnes Church 143 East 43rd Street. Christine is safe and is in the custody of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The Greenburgh Police Detectives assigned to this case are on their way to pick up Christine.

This was a combined effort of the Greenburgh Police, MTA police, members of the Edgemont Cares community and the media resulting in the an individual at Saint Agnes Church recognizing Christine from a "missing flyer" and contacting the police. Over 200 individuals from the Edgemont community responded to calls for help in Manhattan yesterday to post "Missing Flyers". Their efforts worked. This initiative was organized by Edgemont Cares community leader Aubrey Graf-Daniels, one of the real heroes in the effort to find Christine and bring her back to safety. Edgemont high school students also participated in the effort to locate Christine. I would also like to thank Chief Chris McNerney for giving this effort his highest priority attention. I am sure that I speak for all Greenburgh residents in thanking the hard working police department for their hard work, dedication and outstanding abilities."