The suspect accused of abducting the co-founder of Slack's 16-year-old child is facing felony charges in relation to the incident.
Mint Butterfield who identifies as nonbinary and goes by they/them pronouns, was found at around 11:30PM on Saturday (April 27) in the notorious Tenderloin district of San Francisco - a neighborhood known for its higher crime rate - after going missing last Sunday.
According to the Marin County Sheriff’s Office, the 16-year-old, whose parents are Slack co-founder Stewart Butterfield and Flickr co-founder Caterina Fake, was located in a white van with 26-year-old Christopher “Kio” Dizefalo.
Dizefalo, described as an "adult friend" of Mint's, was promptly apprehended and booked at Marin County Jail on suspicion of child abduction and related offenses, with bail set at $50,000.
Per The Independent, Mint - who was deemed “at risk” due to previous threats of suicide - told investigators that they voluntarily ran away from home in Bolinas.
They allegedly left a note indicating to their parents that they’d had the intention of fleeing before they were found with Dizefalo.
The pair allegedly “had some sort of a quasi-dating relationship,” the Marin County Sheriff’s Office told The New York Post but could not provide further details.
Following the terrifying ordeal, the teen’s parents as well as stepdad and fellow tech founder Jyri Engeström - expressed gratitude to the police and the community for facilitating Mint's recovery.
They particularly commended law enforcement for their vigilance against predators who exploit vulnerable youths.
“A heartfelt thanks to all the family, friends, volunteers, and strangers who called in tips and made this recovery possible,” the family wrote in a statement. “We especially want to thank the seasoned law enforcement officers who understand the very real threat of predators who use the allure of drugs to groom teenagers.”
It has now been disclosed that Dizefalo, who is a parking valet, was charged with unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, along with contributing to the delinquency of a minor with the runaway case of Mint, according to Marin County booking records.
In addition to this, he was charged with one count of child stealing - which is when a victim willingly leaves their home but is coerced by someone intending to hide them from legal guardians.
The suspect is also indicted for influencing and sexually assaulting the teenager.
He is currently being held on $50,000 bail and is due in court on Tuesday (April 30) morning for arraignment.
