Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Desperate parents seek answers over a month after 15-year-old daughter vanished on first day of school

Sarah Pipkin, 15, vanished after the first day of school on 15 August

Andrea Blanco
Wednesday 21 September 2022 21:57 BST
Comments
Child missing after boat capsizes at Lake Fairview in Orlando

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The parents of a missing South Carolina teenager continue to seek answers about their daughter’s disappearance.

Fifteen-year-old Sarah Pipkin was last seen on 15 August after her first day of school at Cane Bay High School, in Berkeley County. Surveillance video captured the teen leaving the school premises with a group of students, local news station WCSC reported.

Sarah was supposed to take the bus home that day and an hour after she failed to arrive, her mother filed a runaway report with the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office following advice from the department, she wrote in a Facebook post.

More than a month after Sarah went missing, her family is desperately pleading with the public to come forward with information about her whereabouts.

“I need to know. I need to know if she’s safe,” Darling Campbell told WCSC. “I need to know if someone’s harmed [my daughter]. If someone has ... I want them prosecuted to the fullest. You know, I mean, in all reality, she is 15. She’s not old enough to make decisions for herself.”

Sarah’s disappearance is now being treated as a missing person case. The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office told WCSC there have been no updates in the investigation.

A $1,000 reward is being offered for information about Sarah Pipkin, who went misisng on 15 August
A $1,000 reward is being offered for information about Sarah Pipkin, who went misisng on 15 August (Facebook/Darling Campbell)

“We’re thinking it’s not necessarily a runaway and that someone has picked her up,” Ms Campbell told WCSC.

“... We just want her home so she can either get the help she needs and continue with her life. You know, that’s all we want.”

Sarah’s father, Rickey Campbell, said he is worried about Sarah’s wellbeing because she did not take anything with her that could indicate she left on her own. The day she went missing, she left her phone and wallet at home.

“If I was going to run away, I would make sure that I had extra clothes, socks, shoes whatever,” Mr Campbell told the outlet. “She took not even deodorant, not even money, she didn’t take it, she didn’t take anything.”

Sarah is white, has brown eyes and recently cut her hair short, pixie style
Sarah is white, has brown eyes and recently cut her hair short, pixie style (Darling Campbell/Facebook)

A $1,000 reward is being offered for information about Sarah. She was ls seen wearing faded jeans, a black Bob Ross t-shirt and white Nike Air Force 1 shoes.

Sarah is white, has brown eyes and recently cut her hair short, pixie style.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 843-554-1111.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in