Two charged after Slack co-founder’s teen child found inside van

Article content

Two people are facing charges after the teenage child of Slack co-founder Stewart Butterfield was allegedly abducted in California last week.

Mint Butterfield, 16, was reported missing by Flickr founder Caterina Fake, the child’s mother, on April 21 after she was unable to locate the teen, reported the San Francisco Chronicle.

Article content

The mom, who told investigators that she last saw the teen at about 10 p.m. the previous night, said a note indicated her child had left the family’s home in Bolinas, north of San Francisco.

Late Saturday night, police searched San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighbourhood and found the child inside a white van, the Marin County Sheriff’s Office said in a social-media update.

Article content

Christopher Dizefalo, the owner of the vehicle, was charged with unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, child abduction and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

According to the New York Post, authorities said Dizefalo — who parks cars for a living — and the teen were allegedly in a “quasi-relationship.”

Sarah Atkins is also facing an abduction charge and is accused of contributing to the delinquency of a minor as well.

A criminal complaint alleged that the pair “willfully and unlawfully” enticed Mint away from the home and concealed the teen.

It is unknown how the child left the home as the teen, who identifies with the pronouns they and them, didn’t have access to a phone or vehicle.

Dizefalo made a court appearance on Wednesday and was ordered to stay away from Mint. He has another court appearance scheduled on Friday.

Atkins is not in custody and a warrant for her arrest has been issued by authorities.

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

Share this article in your social network