Authorities in California on Sunday, April 28 announced that the runaway child of former Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield and Flickr co-founder Caterina Fake had been found safe, and the adult man she was with is facing charges.
Knewz.com has learned that Mint Butterfield, a 16-year-old who uses they/them pronouns, was last seen at home in Bolinas on April 21, and was reported missing on April 22. During the search, it was believed Mint ran away on their own, and may have headed to San Francisco's Tenderloin District, about 30 miles from Bolinas.
The Marin County Sheriff's Office said Sunday that detectives learned Mint "may have been associated with an adult friend," 26-year-old Christopher “Kio” Dizefalo. Investigators learned Dizefalo was linked to a white van, and that van was located in San Francisco.
The San Francisco Police Department contacted the van, and found Mint uninjured inside. Marin County detectives responded to recover Mint, who confirmed was running away voluntarily. Detectives also interviewed Dizefalo, however, and determined he allegedly convinced Mint to run away.
Dizefalo was arrested and charged with felony child stealing, felony unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
He was booked into the Marin County Jail and bail was set at $50,000.
—TMX contributed to this report.