Police: Girls may be headed to hometowns

CLEVELAND COUNTY, N.C. -- A massive search for three missing juveniles from a group home who walked away while on a trip to the Broad River Greenway has been called off.

Now Boiling Springs Police Chief Marty Thomas says he search has turned into an investigation.

It started when the three teens, all girls, were visiting the river when they just walked away from their group worker, who contacted police.

A number of area agencies helped with the search, including the Cleveland County Urban Search and Rescue. They covered about a seven-mile location where they where last seen.

From left: 13-year-old Taylor Sandefer, 15-year-old Shikeyla Wilfong and 16-year-old Brittany Roper

Police said that they wanted to catch up with the girls -- identified as 13-year-old Taylor Sandefer, 15-year-old Shikeyla Wilfong and 16-year-old Brittany Roper -- because all three girls have behavioral or medical conditions.

After spending several hours searching for the teens in heavily wooded areas along the Broad River Greenway, the search was called off.

"I think we’ll get back in contact with people at the group home and continue the investigation," Thomas said.

Police think the teens may have taken a ride to the Hickory area, Charlotte, or Hendersonville, where the teens are from.

Two of the missing teens have now violated their probations by running away.