Missing teen: 17-year-old male, red hoodie
Description
I am Mia Rodriguez, and I am desperately looking for my son Mateo, who is 17. He is about 5 ft 9 in tall with curly dark brown hair, brown eyes, and a slim build. He was wearing a bright red hoodie, a gray T-shirt, dark blue jeans, and black sneakers with white soles. The hoodie has a small tear at the left elbow. Last seen this afternoon around 4:15 pm near the Tivoli Theatre on Broad Street in downtown Chattanooga. He has a small star tattoo on his inner left wrist and wears a silver compass pendant on a thin chain. This is really worrying for us; he has been missing since this afternoon and I just want him home safely.
Approximate last-seen location
Pin shows an approximate area, not the exact spot — to protect privacy.
How to safely get your item back
A short checklist to protect you and the item during the handoff.
Verify the finder before meeting
- Ask them to describe a detail not shown in your listing, such as an engraving, scratch, or contents.
- Request a clear photo of the item from an angle you did not post.
- Do not pay any release, shipping, or storage fee.
- Do not share your full address until you have verified them.
Meet in a safe, public place
- Police stations, café entrances, transport hubs, and shop foyers all work.
- Meet during daylight hours where there is CCTV and foot traffic.
- Avoid private homes, car parks at night, or isolated locations.
Bring someone with you
- Tell a friend or family member where you are meeting and when.
- Share your live location with them during the handoff.
- For high-value items, consider contacting your local police station for advice first.
Keep communication on lostandfound.io
- Use the in-app message thread so there is a record if something goes wrong.
- Do not move to WhatsApp, SMS, or email until you have exchanged a verifying detail.
- Never share bank details, government ID numbers, or copies of your ID.