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Twitter Hoax Teen Found Walking Along NJ Turnpike


By

Jen Chung

Published Oct 3, 2012

Modified Oct 3, 2012


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She has, like, SO many more followers than you.


By

Jen Chung

Published Oct 3, 2012

Modified Oct 3, 2012


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Kara Alongi, the 16-year-old NJ girl whose Tweet about an intruder being in her home sparked a search and an online outpouring of support—before authorities determined she voluntarily left her home via taxi and bought a train ticket to Penn Station—is back at home. According to the Star-Ledger, "State Police found Alongi walking along the side of the New Jersey Turnpike near Exit 1 in South Jersey at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. She was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation."

On Sunday afternoon, Alongi Tweeted, "There is somone in my hour ecall 911" but a cab company confirmed she had called for a car to pick her up, and surveillance footage showed her at a local NJ Transit station. Clark Police Chief Alan Schreb said that the teen was reunited with her family last night. Yesterday afternoon, the Star-Ledger posted an emotional plea from her mother, begging Kara to return. Kim Alongi said that on Sunday afternoon, Kara had planned on joining her family at one of her brother's hockey games, but then she said she "had a headache, so she told me she was going to lay down. When I left, she was resting in her bed with a headache."

The mother also referred to the negative comments about her daughter's apparent hoax, "Regardless of what happened, she’s still a missing 16-year-old girl who’s alone as far as we know."

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fake intruder

kara alongi

nj

nj turnpike

twitter

twitter hoax


Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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