SACO — A Saco teenager missing for more than three months has been returned to her home.

Kayla Skula, 15, left a residential facility on March 22. She arranged for transportation and left the Portland Road area in an unknown vehicle, according to Saco police.

Kayla had been missing since she left in March. Local police had been working with several Maine law enforcement agencies, out-of-state agencies, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, as part of an ongoing missing person investigation.

On Monday, police issued a notice asking for the public’s help in finding Kayla.

Kayla’s grandmother, Bambi Skula, said in a text message Tuesday morning that Kayla was returned home by police at 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Saco police confirmed that Kayla was found on a Facebook post Tuesday morning.

“Kayla Skula has been returned to her family. The Saco Police Department would like to thank the public, fellow law enforcement agencies and media for their assistance with this investigation,” wrote police.

Saco Police Interim Chief Jack Clements said Kayla turned herself in early Tuesday morning at the Lewiston Police Station.

Kayla’s grandmother declined further comment at this time but had said in a March interview that Kayla lived with her and her husband. Kayla had run away before, but had always stayed local and was home within a day, said Skula in March.

More than 426,000 children are reported missing each year, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Robert Lowery, vice president of the missing children division with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, said that there are a number of reasons why a child may runaway, and it’s not always behavioral. He said children may run away because they are lured by someone, or want to escape living conditions that aren’t ideal or they want to find some sense of belonging.

Lowery said children who are have left home are vulnerable, and if they don’t have food or shelter can easily be taken advantage of.

Lowery said it’s important to find children who are missing, but it’s also important to work with children afterward to make sure they are kept safe.

Saco police said Tuesday they had no information on where Kayla was while she was missing;  a call to Lewiston police was not returned prior to press time.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be reached at 780-9015 or by email at egotthelf@journaltribune.com.