By Tim Harfmann
The Mill Basin, Brooklyn community is grateful tonight.
Since Monday, September 23, the neighborhood had been on a frantic search for 14-year-old GiaMarie Duffy, a freshman at St. Saviour High School in Brooklyn.
“She asked if she could go for a walk, which is not out of the ordinary, and she just left,” said Keith Duffy, GiaMarie’s father.
According to Keith, police learned the five-foot-two-inch teen turned off her phone, boarded a nearby bus and took it to the Kings Highway subway station.
An online plea for help went viral and was shared on Facebook over 10,000 times.
GiaMarie wound up in the Bronx, and finally answered a call from a family friend on Wednesday, September 25.
The police picked her up and took her to Jacobi Medical Center for evaluation.
How or why she was in the Bronx is still unclear.
GiaMarie’s mother, Ashley Capoziello, said her daughter has a huge heart and doesn’t understand what made her leave.
“She has an overwhelming amount of love and support and family and friends that are always going to be here for her,” Ashley said.
GiaMarie has also enjoyed her Catholic education at St. Saviour ever since she finished her first week of classes.
“She loved it! She loved it,” said Keith. “She told me, ‘Dad, I’m mad tomorrow’s Saturday because I can’t go to school.'”
“Catholic high school was always an option,” Ashley added. “It was the only option. But, inevitably, we decided on St. Saviour and so far, it’s the best decision.”
GiaMarie’s parish, Saint Bernard in Bergen Beach, planned a Wednesday night prayer service in Thanksgiving for her safe return.
“It’s every parent’s nightmare to get something like this,” said neighbor Leeor Solomon. “Thank God she’s alive and well. She’s a sweetheart. None of this makes sense.”
Family and neighbors said there are a lot of unanswered questions, but their main question is answered: GiaMarie is alive.