After being missing for a week, Mint Butterfield, the child of major tech founders Stewart Butterfield and Caterina Fake, was safely located and reunited with family. The teenager from Bolinas uses they/them pronouns and was initially considered at risk.
Butterfield’s parents are known for cofounding Flickr, with Stewart later going on to cofound Slack. The family expressed gratitude to all those who helped in the search for Butterfield, including family, friends, volunteers, and strangers who provided tips.
Authorities had initially stated that Butterfield was a voluntary missing juvenile at risk due to a previous suicide attempt. However, after their safe recovery, police clarified that there were no indications of any such attempt this time around.
According to the San Francisco Police Department, Butterfield left a note and took a suitcase with them but did not have a car or phone. The safe recovery of Butterfield brought relief to their loved ones and the community following a challenging period of uncertainty.