FOUND: Missing Woman Safe in California With Boyfriend After a Month

Lateche Norris was reported missing in early November after traveling from Indiana to California to meet her boyfriend after he was released from rehab. Norris had frantically called her mother from a stranger’s phone and promised to call back the next day. She never did.

Norris and her boyfriend, Joey Smith, had a history of domestic violence and there was a current no contact order in place, according to reports.

Norris’ mother, Cheryl Walker, had suspicions about her boyfriend and was worried she was in danger. She pleaded for help on social media stating Norris was “just as important as Gabby Petito”. Walker also received support from Petito’s mother, Nicole Schmidt.

There are reports from sources close to Norris’ mother that she has been found safe with her boyfriend. There is talk on Twitter that Norris and her mother were at a bar having drinks soon after being located. There is speculation circulating on Twitter of the whole story being a scam in efforts to gain money from the GoFundMe created to find Norris.

Walker took to social media to defend Smith after he was compared to Brian Laundrie. She had previously spoken out about her worries about Norris’ safety being with Smith and his troubled past.

Walker posted on the GoFundMe made for Norris stating, “Lateche and Joey have been found safe! I don’t have any further update at the moment but I wanted to let you all know ASAP that we did it! All of us! Gonna take a moment to catch out breathe! Thank you!”.

The police department has yet to confirm Lateche Norris is safe and found. The only confirmation has been from her mother, Cheryl Walker.