2 min read

A missing Oakland teen was found safe in the state of Nebraska after going missing for nearly a week, police reported Wednesday morning.

Lanie Nolan Photo provided by Lewiston Police

Lanie Nolan, 15, an Oakland native and resident of New Beginnings in Lewiston, was located in the state of Nebraska on Tuesday night.

“Arrangements are currently being made to get her back to Maine so as to reunite her with her family,” Lewiston Police said in a news release.

Nebraska State Patrol arrested 23-year-old Taylor Hauke of Vacaville, California, on charges of child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Nolan had been missing since March 18 when she said she was “going for a walk.” New Beginnings, which serves homeless and runaway youth, contacted police when she did not return.

Police believed Nolan may have willingly left with Hauke, whom she had been in contact with on social media. Hauke is currently being held at the Lincoln County Jail in Lincoln, Nebraska.

They were found near the Brady rest area on Interstate 80 in North Platte, Nebraska. Hauke was driving a blue 2001 Ford Mustang with a California license plate.

“We are very pleased that Lanie has been located and that she is safe,” police wrote in the release. “We would like to acknowledge and thank everyone that assisted with this missing person investigation; including family members, friends and community members, LPD detectives and officers as well as the many dedicated law enforcement professionals who contributed in Lanie being found safe.”

In addition to the Lewiston Police Department, the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office, Oakland Police, Homeland Security Investigations, California’s Attorney General’s Office, Nebraska State Police and Vacaville, California, police assisted in the search.

Greg Levinsky's beat includes coverage of China, Oakland, Vassalboro, Winslow and more. Greg is a 2020 graduate of Boston University's College of Communication. He previously worked as a sports correspondent...

Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.

We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.

We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.

You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.

Show less