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Police: Bonney Lake teen still missing, sex offender in custody

By KIRO 7 Staff and Ranji Sinha, KIRO 7 News
By KIRO 7 Staff and Ranji Sinha, KIRO 7 News

BONNEY LAKE, Wash. — May 27 update: Officials with the Bonney Lake Police Department say 15-year-old Lieleana 'Lily' Christopher "was seen in the City of Tacoma within the last two or three days."

Lily was seen "wearing a black midriff shirt with tan capris pants and may be in the company of a female with a dark complexion," police said in a news release.

Police say 'Lily' may be frequenting Tacoma and Fife, and anyone with information on her location is asked to call 9-1-1.

<strong style='font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, "Trebuchet MS";'>May 26 update: </strong><span style='font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, "Trebuchet MS";'>39-year-old Christopher Fitzpatrick, a registered sex offender, was arrested Saturday after officials received an anonymous tip, according to U.S. Marshals public information officer Beatrice </span>Pharr<span style='font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, "Trebuchet MS";'>.</span>

Phar says Lily Christopherson is still missing, and they are actively pursing leads to locate her.

"The message we would really like to send out to her if she were to see this, is this guy has been arrested and she (is) safe to come home, and we're doing what we can to find her," Pharr said.

KIRO 7 is working to gather more information and we will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.

May 25 update: Police say missing teen Lily Christopherson is confirmed to be traveling with 39-year-old Christopher Fitzpatrick, a registered sex offender.

Police say they are likely staying in motels and camping areas between Tacoma and Tumwater. It is unknown if Christopherson is traveling with Fitzpatrick willingly.

The U.S. Marshals-led Western District of Washington Fugitive Task Force is offering a $5,000 reward for help with the apprehension of Fitzpatrick.

Earlier story:

A Bonney Lake mother is making a desperate plea to the public to help find her missing daughter. Fifteen-year-old Lileana ‘Lily’ Christopherson hasn't been seen since May 9 and police believe she may be with a registered sex offender.

Authorities says Lily took a bus from Bonney Lake to Federal Way two weeks ago, so she may have passed through the Federal Way Transit Center. Lily’s mother, Lena Winters, says her family have handed out flyers with her photo at the transit center and other locations in Federal Way.

"I'm feeling completely heartbroken. She's my heart and it's missing. It's indescribable how I feel right now," Winters said.

At first authorities believed Lily ran away and might be with a male friend from Bonney Lake. Winters said that forced her to search on her own in Snohomish County. On Monday, she "tracked her friend who I thought she was with down in Everett. (He was) homeless on the streets and (I) finally got him to talk to the detective.”

That led authorities to suspect Lily may be with 39-year-old Christopher Fitzpatrick, a registered sex offender with a record including assault with sexual motivation. He has also failed to register as a sex offender several times, according to court records. Fitzpatrick is known to frequent Federal Way, so authorities and Winters hope Lily may be in the area.

Winters is scared her daughter could be a victim of human trafficking. “That's exactly what I'm scared of. She's a beautiful girl. She doesn't realize the dangers out there.”

Now Winters has made her plea to her daughter and anyone with her.

“Send her home. She's our heart…I want her to know 'don't be scared to come home; we're not angry with you.'”

Authorities say Lily was also seen at an apartment in the area of 327th Lane in Federal Way.

Anyone who sees the missing 15-year-old should call police.

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