ROSEVILLE, Michigan — Salena Lynn Fleenor, a 17-year-old white teen from Roseville, Michigan, was reported missing at 8:20 a.m. on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, after she didn’t return home and stopped answering her phone, according to Roseville Police. Her disappearance shines a spotlight on the severe risks that young people face every day, especially from online predators and systemic issues in obtaining prompt help.

Salena’s mother, Christina Harcus, said her daughter had run away briefly before but never for such an extended period. “This is 10 days without anything,” Harcus said, expressing fears that someone could have taken advantage of her daughter. The last known sighting was when a Lyft driver dropped Salena off at Rivers Edge Trailer Park in Clinton Township around 10 a.m. on Easter Sunday. Reports suggested she might have been seen again as recently as April 29, 2025.

The Search and Federal Assistance

After local searches failed, on May 5, 2025, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) stepped in and designated Salena’s case as “critically missing and endangered.” Investigators traced Salena’s Snapchat activity to 26-year-old Davis Alexander Marshall from Raleigh, North Carolina. Authorities said Marshall drove more than 500 miles to pick her up, discarded her GPS-tracked cellphone, and replaced it with a burner phone.

Recovery and Arrest

On May 7, 2025, after a nationwide investigation, Raleigh Police located Salena at the Clarion Pointe Midtown motel in Raleigh, North Carolina. They arrested Marshall on charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Court documents revealed that Marshall was aware of the missing child report but did not notify authorities. Authorities found Marshall had purchased food, children’s toys, and clothing from Victoria’s Secret for Salena—items investigators recognized as typical grooming tactics used by predators. Additional charges, including accosting a child for immoral purposes and possible human trafficking, are under investigation.

Highlighting Broader Issues: Recent Cases

Salena’s story isn’t isolated, and it highlights the risks that youth across diverse backgrounds face:

  • Ja’Niyah McMichael, a 13-year-old black and hispanic girl from Gary, Indiana, was reported missing on August 12, 2024, after an argument with her mother the night before. Authorities now suspect foul play. After the FBI got involved, a combined reward of up to $30,000 is available for information leading to her safe return and the arrest of any perpetrator(s) involved in her disappearance. (Rewards: FBI $10k, Gary PD $10k, and USPA $10k)
  • Marissa Carmichael, a 25-year-old black/biracial single mother of five, vanished from Greensboro, North Carolina, on January 14, 2024, after calling 911 from an Exxon gas station. Marissa had been out with friends the night before, starting at one of her close friends’ apartments, ending up at One 17 Sofa Bar & Lounge, and then reportedly at an after-party. Friends reported that she left the club and the afterparty with a close male acquaintance, who later abandoned her at the Exxon when she went inside to make a small purchase. Moments after she made the 911 call, she was seen on surveillance footage getting into a car with a different male acquaintance. Marissa was never seen again. Despite extensive investigations, she remains missing, with a fear of possible trafficking.
  • Chalice Welch, a 24-year-old white mother of four from Irving, Texas, was initially reported to have been last seen by friends on February 2, 2024, leaving a birthday party at Embassy Suites in Dallas, Texas. Friends of Chalice reported that she went with three men she had become familiar with over the past year. Two of the men got into one vehicle, and Chalice was forcefully guided into the second vehicle with the third man, with only her cellphone, and severely inebriated. Her last cell phone ping would be near Walnut Hill and Central Expressway in Dallas at 4:36 AM. Footage of Chalice later surfaced showing her leaving an Airbnb with the same man who was seen forcibly guiding her into his rental car, still visibly inebriated, with a timestamp of 3:58 AM. Her disappearance emphasizes the vulnerabilities faced by young women and mothers.
  • London Thomas, a 17-year-old black teen from Inkster, Michigan, disappeared on April 5, 2025, after being dropped off at her 23-year-old boyfriend’s home on Carlysle Street. Her cellphone last pinged near Cooper Upper Elementary School in Westland on April 6. Tragically, her body was found weeks later, on April 26, inside an SUV parked at a Southfield residence near 8 Mile and Telegraph Roads. Authorities arrested two individuals in connection with her disappearance, and a 48-year-old Clawson woman was charged with lying to federal agents during the investigation. London’s story highlights the crucial importance of community involvement and vigilance.
  • Tasia Keaton, a 16-year-old white teen from Dearborn Heights, Michigan, vanished from Vista Maria, a residential facility for vulnerable youth, on March 14, 2025. She was last seen at a gas station near Beech Daly and Joy Road on March 17. Tasia was found over a month later, on April 23, in the apartment of a 62-year-old man in Dearborn Heights. Investigations revealed she had endured abuse, exploitation, and possible human trafficking during her disappearance. The man was taken into custody, highlighting the risks facing at-risk youth and the need for comprehensive support.

Keeping Our Youth and Vulnerable Adults Safe

Keep it real: the best way to protect our people is by talking straight and trusting each other. Sit down with your kids, your cousins, your friends—and lay it out: what risks are out there, from sketchy DMs to streets that can turn dangerous in a heartbeat. Then build your own safety playbook—a secret word or phrase someone can drop when they’re in trouble, and you’ll know it’s serious. Notice when someone’s acting off—sneaky new apps, late-night meetups, or friendships that pop up out of nowhere. When you see those red flags, don’t shame them—ask questions, show you care, and help them figure out their next move. And keep up with what’s happening in our neighborhoods—if there’s a new scam, a spike in violence, an increase in missing persons, signs of potential trafficking (recruitment), or anything that could pull someone into harm’s way—talk it through. Make sure everyone knows the plan: where to go, who to call, and how to stay safe until help arrives.

How to Report Concerns

Always call 911 or local law enforcement first if you believe someone is in immediate danger.

Resources and Community Support

AIDBIPOC is dedicated to raising awareness, advocating for equitable treatment, and promoting policy changes that benefit all missing and trafficked persons, especially marginalized individuals. Founder Theresa Norwood emphasizes the importance of community engagement to ensure effective action and support.

  • National Runaway Safeline: 1-800-RUNAWAY or 1800runaway.org
  • National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: missingkids.org or 1-800-THE-LOST
  • Mental Health Crisis Support: Dial 988 for immediate assistance

Let’s unite as a community—every story matters, every action counts.

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