Community Outrage After Missing Juvenile Alert Turned into a disrespectful taunt from the teen who was missing to the people trying to find her.

 

MILLS, Wyo. — The Mills Police Department issued a missing juvenile alert this week for 16-year-old Bailey Turner, sparking immediate concern across Natrona County. But what started as a serious call for help quickly unraveled into frustration when Turner herself appeared in the comments section of the department’s own Facebook post, treating the matter as a joke.

 

According to the Mills police face book post,

 

. Within hours, the post drew hundreds of shares from community members who believed they were helping in the search. Instead, Turner surfaced online, leaving taunting replies and dismissive comments while the department and local residents scrambled to take the matter seriously.

 

Community Reaction

 

The response from the public has been swift — and angry. Many residents say they felt misled, wasting time and energy searching for a girl who was never in danger. Comments across social media show a growing sentiment that this kind of behavior shouldn’t be brushed off.

 

One resident wrote, “This isn’t funny. There are real missing kids out there, and now people won’t take alerts seriously if this keeps happening.”

 

Another added, “She should be held accountable. If we don’t set an example, others will think this is just a game.” 

 

Another Wyoming Resident commented on the post and had this to say:

 

Bayleigh Turner glad you’re alive first of all. I’m sorry you don’t like all the other post about you, but actually anyone commenting took the time to read about you and care. I didn’t have to.. I live in Wyoming but not your area but I cared about you enough to hope I could help. Reach out.. we are here.

 

Calls for Accountability

 

The biggest debate now is whether Turner should face formal charges for her actions. Some argue that, at 16, she should be made to understand the seriousness of wasting police resources and shaking public trust. Others say this is a matter for her family to handle privately rather than through the court system.

 

 We reached out to the Mills Police, they have yet to comment on this Situation or whether or not any charges will be pursued. Mills police have yet to remove the post where her and friends laugh in the faces of the people trying to help find her. 

 

But the incident has opened a broader discussion in Natrona County about responsibility, online behavior, and how law enforcement should handle Situations like this in the future.

 

The Bigger Picture

 

False alarms like this one can carry long-lasting consequences. Not only do they strain already limited police resources, but they also risk undermining the public’s willingness to respond to legitimate emergency alerts in the future.

For now, the community is left with frustration — and a sharp reminder that social media antics can have real-world consequences.