Mint Butterfield, a 16-year-old child of Stewart Butterfield and Caterina Fake, founders of major tech companies Flickr and Slack, was found safe by California police after being missing for a week. Their parents were relieved to have their child back home, and Mint, who uses they/them pronouns, was reunited with their family in Bolinas.
Mint’s disappearance was a cause for concern due to a past suicide attempt, leading to law enforcement classifying them as a “voluntary-missing juvenile” at risk. Despite taking a suitcase and leaving a note, Mint did not have access to a car or a phone during their absence.
The teenager’s stepfather, Jyri Engestrom, is also a tech founder, further solidifying the family’s ties to the industry. In response to the situation, the family released a statement expressing their gratitude for the support and assistance received from family, friends, volunteers, and strangers that helped locate Mint. The collaborative effort ultimately led to Mint’s safe return, bringing relief to all involved.
