Mint Butterfield, the child of Stewart Butterfield and Caterina Fake, founders of major tech companies, was found safe by California police after being missing for a week. Their parents, who cofounded Flickr and Slack, were relieved to have their 16-year-old child back home. Mint, who uses they/them pronouns, was reunited with their family in Bolinas.
The teenager’s stepfather, Jyri Engestrom, is also a tech founder, which further solidifies the family’s ties to the tech industry. 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.
In a statement released by the family, they expressed their gratitude for the support and assistance received from family, friends, volunteers, and strangers that helped in locating Mint. The collaborative effort ultimately led to Mint’s safe return, bringing relief to all involved.