Mint Butterfield, Teen Child of Former Slack CEO, Found Safe in San Francisco

Mint Butterfield, the 16-year-old child of former Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield and Flickr co-founder Caterina Fake, was located safely in San Francisco on Saturday night, nearly a week after being reported missing from their home in Bolinas, California. Mint, who uses they/them pronouns, was found unharmed in a white van belonging to 26-year-old Christopher 'Kio' Dizefalo.

The Marin County Sheriff's Office collaborated with the San Francisco Police Department, Oakland Police Department, and the FBI to find Mint, who was known to frequent the Tenderloin neighborhood in San Francisco. Detectives concluded that Mint had voluntarily left home on April 22 and was connected with Dizefalo.

Upon discovering Mint inside Dizefalo's van, San Francisco police arrested the 26-year-old on suspicion of multiple criminal violations. Dizefalo was booked into the Marin County Jail with his bail set at $50,000. Mint has since been reunited with their family.

Why this matters: The disappearance of a child, especially one with high-profile parents in the tech industry, raises concerns about safety and the challenges families face. The successful collaboration between law enforcement agencies emphasizes the significance of coordinated efforts in locating missing persons and ensuring their safe return.

In a statement, the Marin County Sheriff's Office expressed appreciation to the San Francisco Police Department, Oakland Police Department, FBI, and the public for their assistance in locating Mint and facilitating their safe return. "We are relieved that Mint has been found unharmed and is back with their family," the statement read. The office also acknowledged the public's help in providing tips that ultimately led to Mint being located.

Key Takeaways

• 16-year-old Mint Butterfield reported missing, found safe in San Francisco.
• Mint was located in a van belonging to 26-year-old Christopher 'Kio' Dizefalo.
• Dizefalo arrested on suspicion of multiple criminal violations, bail set at $50,000.
• Law enforcement agencies collaborated to locate Mint and ensure their safe return.
• Mint's disappearance raises concerns about child safety, emphasizes importance of coordinated efforts.