Lakewood police searching for teen girl, sex offender, 40
April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News
Published October 2, 2007 at midnight
Lakewood police issued a missing persons alert today for 16-year-old Amber Nicole Westbrook who apparently ran off with a convicted sex offender more than twice her age.
Westbrook was last seen Sept. 25 at Middle College of Denver in Lakewood where she took classes, police said.
It's believed she is with Matthew "Matt" Preston Caulk, 40, who is wanted by the U.S. Marshal's Office for failure to register as a sex offender in Montana.
Caulk has been convicted of sexual misconduct with minor in the state of Washington, said Lakewood Police Sgt. Matt Testa, of the crimes against children unit.
"It seems she's gone voluntarily with him," he said. "We don't have a note saying, 'Bye, Mom, I'm running off with this guy.'"
Testa said Lakewood police are investigating the incident as a possible runaway and missing person case. But an arrest warrant has been issued for Caulk, who was last seen Sept. 26 with an unknown person in a dark green Volkswagen Golf at 613 Urban Court in Lakewood.
Police said he may also be driving a red 2000 Mercury Cougar with expired Nebraska license plates.
Caulk is believed to have struck up a relationship with the Lakewood teen shortly after moving to Colorado in May.
"They have had an ongoing social relationship of some type for quite some time," Testa said. "We don't know to what extent they're involved.
"This guy basically flops in someone's apartment and lays low until he is found out," he said.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Westbrook and
Caulk are asked to call 911 and mention Lakewood Police Department,
Case Number 07-041871.
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