Oregon Teenager Disappears in Brazil

AP via TBO ^ | Nov 9, 05 | PAULO WINTERSTEIN

[ncountylee]

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) -- A 17-year-old American exchange student missing in Brazil was seen trying to hitchhike to the capital the day she disappeared, Brazilian authorities said Wednesday.

Mykensie Martin, a senior at Summit High School in Bend, Ore., was reported missing Sunday, said Kreg and Judy Roth of the Rotary Youth Exchange Program in Bend.

A witness spotted the girl Sunday evening on the side of a highway leading to Brasilia from the town of Unai, about 80 miles from the capital, said Unai police detective Celso Avila Prado.

Martin told the witness she was on her way to an event sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brasilia and did not have enough money for a bus ticket, Prado said.

The witness told police the teen appeared nervous, but believed it was because she did not have enough money for a ticket, he said.

[xrp]

Greta ON SITE soon!

[JennysCool]

"Ms. Van Susteren, white telephone please. Ms. Van Susteren ..."

[wvobiwan]

A white American woman hitchhiking in Brazil?! Or any country - even the US?! I sure hope she's found OK, but a little common sense wouldn't hurt...

[JennysCool]

This undated handout photo taken in Brazil shows MyKensie Martin. The 17-year-old senior at Summit High School in Bend, Ore., on an exchange visit to Brazil, was last seen by the side of a highway leading to Brasilia about 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005, said Unai police Detective Celso Avila Pardo. The witness talked with Martin as she was trying to hitchhike, and the girl said she was on her way to attend an event in Brasilia sponsored by the Mormon church and did not have enough money for a bus ticket, Pardo said. (AP Photo/HO)

[RushCrush]

I hate to be so callous....but an American who still hitchhikes is stuck in the 60s.

And it AIN'T the 60s no more!

Very sad.

[saquin]

I don't understand what parents are teaching (or not teaching) their kids these days that makes the kids (especially young women) think it's OK and safe to hitchhike alone or go off with strangers in a foreign country (or in the U.S., for that matter). I actually have a feeling these kids wouldn't hitchhike in the U.S. but somehow feel like they're in Disneyland when they're visiting another country.

[Lijahsbubbe]

A 17-year-old American exchange student missing in Brazil

Why oh why would you let your 17 year old daughter go to Brazil alone?

Sometimes it seems animals have a better protective nature of their offspring than humans.

[RushCrush]

MyKensie?

Mackenzieis somewhat acceptable as a name, but MyKensie? Come on people!

[Free Vulcan]

I wouldn't hitchhike in the US, in the county I live in in Iowa, much less overseas in much less developed countries.

[ncountylee]

Heck, I wouldn't drive around alone in a third world country.

[JennysCool]

Yeah, this whole "I'm spelling it differently because it's such a cute thing to do" thing has GOT to stop.

[RushCrush]

Iowa dittoes....

[Delta 21]

She has my prayers for safety.

This doesnt sound good.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Brasil = high crime in many areas and that's just with the locals. Imagine how they think of tourists & visitors as potentially "rich".

[RushCrush]

The only thing that's good about these crazy spellings is that it is easier to detect the losers from the non-losers.

[dennisw]

Ain't life a trip? When you are 17 and decide to visit some 3rd world hole like Brazil. Where the people (especially the guys) are so much more authentic?

[Hank Rearden]

What the hell is a 17-year-old girl doing way the hell down in Brazil without even enough funds for a damn bus ticket? Mormon hippie chick?

Terminal stupidity.

[caryatid]

A 17-year-old American exchange student missing in Brazil was seen trying to hitchhike to the capital the day she disappeared ...

What is wrong with this picture, folks? What sort of "exchange" organization was involved here ... and why were they not more responsible for a child in their care? And, why are the parents not being charged with something .. being stupid fools is not a crime, but endangering the life of a minor should count for something. Don't today's kids learn anything any more ... anywhere?

If this whole thing were not so stupid I might be more sympathetic.

[umgud]

I fear for the girl, but will have no sympathy for her parents who will be crying all over tv soon. Nobody in their right mind has any business sending a teen to a third world contry (and many developed contries also).