Missing teenager found safe

ST. CHARLES – A days-long search for a Campton Hills teen ended Tuesday morning when she was found, safe and sound, at a friend's house in St. Charles.

Her father, Jason Czajkowski, said he and his wife never imagined the community would rally behind them the way it did.

"My wife and I are grateful for the overwhelming support that we received from the community to bring her home safely," he said.

Emily Czajkowski's whereabouts had been the St. Charles Police Department's priority since she was last seen the evening of July 22, Deputy Police Chief Steve Huffman said.

Huffman said the search for the 14-year-old was a department effort that included "pretty much everybody" in addition to assistance from the Campton Hills, Geneva and Batavia police departments, the Kane County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Marshals Service.

He also acknowledged the community search efforts by the public and the "unbelievable" response on Facebook.

"The ability to reach the community like that is outstanding," Huffman said.

St. Charles police found Emily Czajkowski at a friend's home after the mother of the friend – also a juvenile – discovered the girl was inside the house with her son, Huffman said.

He said Emily Czajkowski had been there "on and off over the last five days." She was "100 percent cooperative," Huffman said. He said she was reunited with her family, and police are treating the situation as a private family matter.

Police know why Emily Czajkowski walked away from the Pottawatomie Community Center on July 22 but are not disclosing the reason, Huffman said, reiterating it is a "private family matter at this point."

"The important thing is she wasn't a victim of any crime," he said.

Campton Hills resident Amy Santoro helped distribute fliers and established the Facebook page "Help find Emily Czajkowski." The page got about 17,000 followers and reached almost 1 million people, she said.

She posted the teen was found safe after receiving a private message from the family, she said.

"The responses are pouring in, and it's pretty remarkable," Santoro said Tuesday morning. There are "17,000-plus happy people at the moment."

Others, however, voiced frustration on Facebook. Many were upset by all the resources used to find a teen who was ultimately found safe at a friend's house.

Button Man Printing co-owner Mark Burger, who donated thousands of fliers for the search, said such thoughts didn't cross his mind. He noted he has two daughters, ages 15 and 17.

"The family has our support," he said.

By Tuesday afternoon, Burger's downtown St. Charles shop had replaced the "missing" posters in his windows with a "Welcome Home Emily!" sign.

"What a great community," he said. "And the women of St. Charles, what a powerful group. They formed an army and got it done."

St. Charles resident Sally Smith, along with Sugar Grove resident Kelly McCarty, led the effort to cover several areas of Kane County with purple and yellow ribbons to support Emily Czajkowski.

Smith was just about to leave her home Tuesday morning when she saw reports on social media confirming the teen was reunited with her parents.

“[Emily Czajkowski] needs to be with her family now, and they need to heal from this,” Smith said. “Most importantly, Emily needs to know that we all care, and we’re all thrilled she’s home.”

• Shaw Media reporter Charles Menchaca and intern Katie Kull contributed to this report.