Warren police officer locates missing girl

By Cristy Bertini

Turley Publications Correspondent

WARREN – Police Officer Scott Romani received a phone call on June 6 from Chicopee police department detectives regarding 15-year-old Crista Rochester, who was reported missing and believed to be in Warren.

Romani said, “There was limited information at that time. They basically told me that she was staying in an apartment complex next to a post office. So I went out searching near Milton Fountain Way. I got a second call back from the detectives, stating that she was staying with a gentleman out here near some railroad tracks and a river in an apartment “F2”, and described as a brick building.”

Romani scouted the Warren area, and on a hunch, he went to 221 Old West Warren Road to Mountainview Apartments across from the river and railroad tracks.

“I went around the back of the complex, and I already knew the names of the two individuals living there presently.” Romani said.

He found apartment “F2” and knocked on the door. The resident, Robert Couture answered the door. Couture’s female companion was not home at the time. Romani asked Couture where Crista was, and Couture didn’t immediately answer, he just “shrugged his shoulders”. When Romani asked again, Couture pointed towards the kitchen area.

“I went around the corner, and there she was. She had dyed her hair black. She actually told me that she pulled her braces out with a pair of pliers, so people wouldn’t recognize her. She didn’t want to be found. She stated to me that she was going to be on the run that night or the next day, she just hadn’t yet found a place to stay.”

Crista told Romani that she was having a tough time at home with her mother. “It’s sad, because she appeared to be a really intelligent girl. She’s just going through a bad time right now.” Romani said.

There was a Child in Need of Services (CHINS) warrant out of Springfield Juvenile Court for her. Romani placed her under arrest for the warrant.

Romani then contacted Chicopee police to make them aware of the fact that he located her and had her in custody. The Chicopee police came to Warren and picked her up.

No charges are being filed against Couture, as he claims that he and the woman that lives with him had no idea that Crista was a runaway.