Missing Slack co-founder's child Mint Butterfield found in San Francisco
What's the story
Mint Butterfield, the 16-year-old child of tech industry leaders Stewart Butterfield, co-founder of Slack, and Caterina Fake, founder of Flickr, was found safe in San Francisco on Saturday.
The teenager had been reported missing the previous week.
Upon her discovery, an adult male acquaintance named Christopher "Kio" Dizefalo was arrested for "multiple criminal violations," according to the Marin County Sheriff's Office.
Arrest
Butterfield was discovered inside a van owned by Dizefalo
Dizefalo, a 26-year-old parking valet as per jail records, was apprehended on Eddy Street in the Tenderloin district.
This area of San Francisco is notorious for its high crime rate and is generally considered unsafe for minors.
Butterfield was discovered inside a van owned by Dizefalo. The teenager had disappeared from their Bolinas residence last Sunday night and was believed to be in the Tenderloin district.
Safe return
Butterfield was found unharmed and confirmed they had left willingly
Despite the concerning circumstances of their disappearance, Butterfield was found unharmed and said they had willingly left home.
The parents thanked law enforcement officers, volunteers, and community members who aided in the search efforts and ensured safe return of the teenager.
"The Marin County Sheriff's Office is thankful for the assistance of the San Francisco Police Department, the Oakland Police Department and the FBI for their continuous efforts in helping us locate Mint," a statement from the sheriff's office said.
Substance abuse
Butterfield's disappearance raised concerns about their well-being
This incident has raised concerns about Butterfield's well-being due to their past struggles with substance abuse and suicidal tendencies.
The teenager had been previously classified as "at-risk."
Their disappearance has underscored the crucial role community efforts play in finding missing individuals and ensuring they return home safely.
Background
Stewart Butterfield is a billionaire and co-founder of Slack
Stewart Butterfield is recognized for co-founding the popular messaging app Slack in 2013, which was later sold to Salesforce for $28 billion in 2021.
His net worth is estimated to be around $1.6 billion according to Forbes.
Prior to Slack, he co-founded Flickr with Fake in 2004, which was subsequently sold to Yahoo! in 2005 for approximately $30 million.
Butterfield and Fake were married from 2001 until their divorce in 2007, the same year Mint was born.