Teen sisters missing for almost a year found in upstate New York
Two sisters who had been missing for almost a year were finally found Wednesday night, and a family acquaintance has reportedly been charged in their kidnapping.
New York State Police said in a statement Ky-Lea Fortner and Shaeleen Fitch-Fortner were discovered in the town of Vestal, about 15 miles away from where they were last seen last spring.
SEE ALSO: Mom accused of abandoning son at hospital
Police say they arrested 29-year-old Amanda Hellman, who they called a "family acquaintance," at the scene. She has been charged with second degree kidnapping.
See more from the case:
The sisters were first reported as "teen runaways" in April 2015, when Ky-Lea was 15 and Shaeleen was 13 years old. Authorities say they were living with a foster family in Binghamton, and they were last seen waiting for a bus at their school.
**PLEASE SHARE**Troop C - New York State Police are still looking for two teenage sisters who have been missing since...
Posted by New York State Police on Monday, February 1, 2016
During the 11 month-long investigation into their disappearance, police say they received many "investigative leads," which eventually pointed them to the girls' location.
Ky-Lea and Shaeleen have reportedly been turned over to family services. Hellman was arraigned and is being held in the Broome County Jail without bond.
