THE missing teenager of a North Carolina high school football coach was found on Wednesday night.

Lauren Heath, 16, disappeared after walking out of her suburban Indian Trail, North Carolina home, which is about 20 miles from uptown Charlotte, on October 13.

Credit: WBTV

---

Credit: Splash

---

The family’s Ring doorbell captured the teen walking down her driveway moments before she vanished.

She was wearing a backpack and carrying a small tote in her hand and didn’t appear to be in any type of distress.

Her parents immediately reported her disappearance to police when they noticed their daughter was missing.

They also put up billboards in several states and posted all over social media begging the public to help them find her.

Bradley Lucore, Communications Specialist for the Monroe Police Department told The U.S. Sun on Thursday that Heath was found in Kirkwood, Missouri, which is more than 11 hours away from her North Carolina home.

"Officers initially made contact with the driver, 30-year-old Christopher James."

Porter is a convicted sex offender, according to police.

"Soon after making this contact, Officers observed a young female in the passenger seat, later identified as Ms. Lauren Heath," police continued.

Police say that Lauren met Porter on a social messaging app, but didn't disclose the name of the app.

"Porter, a convicted sex offender, took advantage of comments made by Ms. Heath about stress and wanting to run away, and ultimately convinced her to do so; traveling all the way from Oklahoma to Monroe to pick her up.

"Porter has been charged with numerous offenses in Missouri at this time, and is expected to face more charges as the investigation continues," law enforcement said.

Lucore said he's unable to provide any other details at this time as it's an onging active investigation.

Police say that Lauren's parents flew to Missouri Wednesday after police alerted them that their daughter was found.

In an exclusive interview with The U.S. Sun on Tuesday afternoon, Lauren’s father, Derrick Heath, previously shared the horror he faced in the days she was missing.

Derrick, who’s an assistant football coach at Porter Ridge High School, said Lauren is a very normal, happy teenager, and there were no signs of depression or hardship going on in her life.

She is an honor roll student who does cheerleading and plays volleyball.

"I just find it very off that a 16-year-old girl can just go missing and not contact anybody. We know our daughter, and she had no reason to do this," her father stated before she was found.

Hundreds of people showed up for a candlelight vigil at the family’s home last week.

The high school that Derrick formerly coached football at, South Mecklenburg High, even painted a spirit rock in honor of Lauren.

A yellow flickering candle can be seen in the middle of the rock with the words: “Help find Lauren Heath,” and the hashtag: “#LITforLAUREN.”

Monroe Police say the community's support and assistance was invaluable in bringing Lauren home.

"Our detectives scoured every lead, followed every tip, and left no stone unturned in our pursuit of reuniting Ms. Heath with her family,” Monroe Police chief J. Bryan Gilliard said.

“We would like to thank all the cooperating agencies at the local, state and federal levels who assisted in this investigation, especially law enforcement in Kirkwood, Missouri. They found Ms. Heath using good old fashioned police work," he added.

Credit: Instagram/Kourtney Kardashian

---

Credit: WCNC

---

Credit: Derrick Heath

---