St. Louis (KSDK) - A teenager who walked out of SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center with her non-custodial father has been found safe at a hospital in Wisconsin.
Doctors said Brittany Jones, 14, was in grave danger and needed medical attention. That prompted St. Louis police to issue a S.A.R.A.A alert.
Police say the teen underwent a kidney transplant at Cardinal Glennon in 2010, and has recently been having some complications. They learned about the missing patient from hospital staff just after 2:00 p.m. Sunday.
Surveillance video showed Brittany Jones in the hospital's lobby hooked-up to an I.V. She was soon met by her father, Dana Jones, and within minutes, the child's I.V. was removed and the two walk out of the hospital.
Police say at some point, the two were confronted by a nurse.
"A comment was made that the father was taking her to a different hospital," says Captain Jim Moran, with the St. Louis Police Department.
Another camera in the hospital's parking lot shows the two pulling- off in a dark blue four-door Ford Fusion, with Ohio plates, EZE-9048. Police say the vehicle is a rental from the Chicago area.
"When she left the hospital, she was still sick, still weak," says Captain Moran.
Officers say the family is from Elkville, IL about two hours away, but a police check revealed no signs of the two at the home. Brittany's father, Dana Jones also has a tie to Ingleside, IL outside of Chicago.
"I know that in January there was a previous incident where the mother removed the child from the hospital against medical advice and then was brought back to the hospital sometime this week because of some sickness," says Captain Moran.
Police say that previous incident also happened at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center.
The state of Illinois stepped- in last Monday to take custody of Brittany Jones after the hospital reported problems with the teen's at home care.
"There has been disagreements between the family and the medical team as to what that care should be," says Moran.
The girl and her father were found late Sunday at a hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The case has been turned over to Illinois authorities.
A spokesman for Cardinal Glennon issued the following statement:
"SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center is relieved to learn the young lady involved in yesterday's SARAA alert has been found and is receiving the care she requires. We continue to work closely with the St. Louis Police Department. This was an isolated event; no other individuals were endangered during yesterday's events. The safety and security of our patients is our top priority and hospital leadership is actively reviewing the situation."
KSDK