At a Glance
- Ashlynn Hanley, 15, vanished on December 10 after climbing into Lavelle Cotton’s Buick
- Police want to question Cotton, 45, who has only spoken by phone so far
- The girl’s ankle monitor was cut off near a bowling alley the same day
- Why it matters: A month-long search has yielded no trace, intensifying fears for her safety
More than a month after Ashlynn Hanley disappeared in Port Orchard, Washington, detectives remain stalled, relying on a single surveillance clip and sporadic phone contact with the man last seen with her.
The Disappearance
Ashlynn, wearing a pink puffy jacket, left her grandmother’s home on December 10 and slipped into a 2011 Buick Enclave registered to Lavelle Cotton, 45, according to the Port Orchard Police Department. Surveillance footage obtained by investigators shows the teenager willingly entering the vehicle. Moments later, the ankle monitor she wore-issued after a recent release from juvenile detention-was severed and last transmitted a signal near a local bowling alley.
The Person of Interest
Detectives have yet to meet Cotton face-to-face. Deputy Chief Alan Iwashita confirmed officers “have been in contact with an individual identifying as Mr. Cotton on the phone,” but emphasized that Cotton has not been accused of a crime. Cotton, who also uses the nicknames “Money Making Prince” and “Little P Dog,” stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 130 lbs.
Family’s Timeline
Ashlynn’s mother, Jade Hanley, told NBC her daughter had been staying with the grandmother after leaving detention. The grandmother drove the teen to school that morning; she never made it inside. When the monitor stopped transmitting, family members alerted police, triggering a search that now spans Kitsap County and Seattle, the city Ashlynn had reportedly hoped to reach.
Description and Appeal
Ashlynn is 5-foot-1, 102 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes. Authorities urge anyone who has seen her or the beige Buick to contact Port Orchard Police at 360-876-1700. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
Key Takeaways
- Last confirmed sighting: December 10, 2025, entering Cotton’s Buick
- Cotton, 45, has spoken with police only by phone; no charges filed
- Ankle-monitor evidence suggests deliberate disappearance, not accident
- Search continues across Washington state one month later
