UPDATE: Thursday afternoon, Avon police reported that Ronan is safe at home.
Avon police announce Ronan Hernsorf-Smith has been found, safe.Avon PD/Facebook
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The family of Avon High School student Ronan Hernsdorf-Smith is hoping widespread outreach through social media will help find their loved one.
Ronan, who is transgender and non-binary, has been missing since the afternoon of the first day of school, Aug. 30.
Avon police say Ronan had recently met another trans teen from Enfield, John Sturvant, also known as Heather Quinn.
"While we haven't found Ronan yet," says Avon Police Lt. John Schmalberger, "we've come across some people who feel very strongly that they've seen Ronan, so we feel very good about the tips coming in."
Ronan Hernsdorf-Smith, 17, of Avonfamily photo via Facebook
Family spokesperson Carrie Firestone is also optimistic: "The past 24 hours, because we've been out there and we've been shared and we've been on the news, I feel like we've been inundated with really good, solid tips."
At a cellphone-light vigil on Wednesday night, Firestone and Lt. Schmalberger updated the community. Firestone asked teenagers attending to continue to use social media to spread the word about the search.
