Valley Regional High School junior Katherine “Kate” Konrad, missing since Dec. 20, 2019, has been located in Oklahoma and was taken into police protective custody early this morning.

Konrad was last seen when her mother Candace Konrad drove her to school on Dec. 20. Her father, Scott Konrad, said knew immediately something was wrong when he got a voicemail from VRHS notifying him of his daughter’s absence. Connecticut State Police, the FBI, and other local, state, and federal agencies began an investigation.

The family believes she left the state with 22-year-old Kyle Sheehan.

According to the Connecticut State Police, at approximately 4 a.m. this morning, the Miami Oklahoma Police Department conducted a traffic stop for a motor vehicle violation. Police linked the vehicle to Konrad.

“Miami Oklahoma Police Department Officers conducted a thorough investigation and were able to identify the occupants in the vehicle. Katherine Konrad was identified and located in the vehicle,” the state police said in a press release. “Katherine Konrad was subsequently taken into protective custody by Miami Oklahoma Police Department.”

According to Connecticut State Police, “The Konrad family greatly appreciates the overwhelming support from the community and they are asking for patience and privacy as they move forward.”

The case remains an open and active investigation; there are no criminal charges at this time.

The Connecticut State Police thanked the following units and agencies for their assistance with this investigation: Miami Oklahoma Police Department, Connecticut State Police Computer Crimes and Electronic Evidence Unit, FBI New Haven Child Exploitation Task Force, CSP Office of Field Operations, Counter Terrorism & Cyber Crime Unit, Connecticut State Police K9 Unit, Connecticut State Police Major Crime/Missing Person Unit, Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force/Fredericksburg Police Department, Connecticut Intelligence Center (CTIC)-CSP, New York State Intelligence Center (NYSIC)–NYSP, NYPD Intelligence Bureau-NY/NJ HIDTA Taskforce, Investigative Support Center (ISC), Regional Operations & Intelligence Center (ROIC)–NJSP, Tennessee Fusion Center (TFC)–TN Highway Patrol (Troopers), and Knox County Sheriff’s Office (TN).