They are the two words Jade Wu and her husband, John Gehrmann, have been hoping to hear for three months: “Found safe.”
Their 14-year-old daughter, Enci Wu, who goes by Aubrey, had been missing from their Easton home in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley since January. On Tuesday, April 15, the Northampton County District Attorney’s Office held a press conference to announce that after three months, Aubrey has been found safe. District Attorney Stephen Baratta told the press that authorities in Jasper, Georgia, had located the teen the day before and had her in their custody. Barrata described Aubrey as uninjured and not in need of medical attention.
“We are also aware, from the reports, that [she] had been residing for a period of time in Georgia and that she had established some relationships with individuals,” he said. “The Georgia authorities are still investigating the circumstances.”
The news came to the D.A.’s office overnight. “This is very recent right now and we haven’t been able to exchange a lot of information with the Georgia authorities,” Barrata said. “At this point, we’re not aware of any charges filed in Georgia, but that investigation is also ongoing.”
Aubrey is currently in the custody of Georgia Protective Services. Baratta said their office is not directly involved with the custodial transfer to get Aubrey back to Pennsylvania.
“This announcement, although we’re relieved, is not celebratory, because there’s a lot in front of us yet that needs to be done,” the D.A. stated. “But everyone here in this room, along with her family, are relieved that Enci is without injury right now.”
Barrata expressed gratitude for the immense police support on the case, especially from the Palmer Township Police Department. “This has been a hectic, stressful 90 days as they devoted significant resources to locating Enci, and now, as a result of this hard work she will be returning home to the Lehigh Valley without injury,” he said. “Besides Palmer Township and our office, the Pennsylvania State Police, the FBI, Homeland Security and the Jasper Police Department in Georgia, have been very active and important entities in this matter.”
The D.A. said Aubrey had changed her appearance and been active on social media while she was gone. “We’re aware she’s been active on social media for a period of time,” he said. The D.A. said he believes Aubrey is “very intelligent” and “very sophisticated,” and was “careful to conceal her whereabouts.”
When asked how she ended up in Georgia, the D.A. replied, “I think only Enci can answer that.” Further details are not yet available. “We need to sit down and have an opportunity to speak with Enci as to what was going on.”
Following the news, Jade Wu went live on the Facebook page created to share updates in her daughter’s case. “Aubrey has been found and I’m very happy. Finally, relief after 94 days of painfully waiting and wondering,” she said. “The nightmare is over.” During the Facebook live, Jade said she had spoken with her daughter on the phone, but did not go into further detail.
She and her husband expressed gratitude to the Palmer Township Police Department, the community and to those who followed the case online. “No matter what you have done, put up a flyer or repost a Link Tree or anything — a prayer, kind words, just talk about Aubrey’s missing, I appreciate every one of you,” Jade said.