Dothan family pleads for help finding missing son

HOUSTON COUNTY, Ala (WDHN) — A Dothan family is asking for the community's help in finding a missing teenager who ran away earlier this month.

Ma'kell Spoly, 17, was last seen on Glenwood Street in Dothan over two weeks ago, and since his disappearance, family members have been asking for the community's help in bringing their loved one home.

The last time family members heard from Ma'kell was in the early morning of September 13 in the 1000 block of Glenwood Street for over two weeks. Family members say they have been living a nightmare of not knowing where their loved one is

"Every time I have tried to keep myself busy. I'm constantly concerned about figuring out where he is, what he is doing, if he's eating, and if he has clothes," said Kelly Spoly, Ma'Kell's mother.

Trying to continuously look for the 17-year-old, diagnosed with autism and ADHD, and understand why the teen, who normally keeps to himself and his video games, ran away from home.

"I just want him home. I'm tired of playing ring around the rosy, I just want him home.," said Spoly.

Each prospective piece of information the family receives on his possible location turns out to be false or a way for someone to extort them.

"I got a random message from some number from 251, which is mobile, just asking me for $250 to give up information on where my son is."

The messages have been given to law enforcement, and the family hopes to turn over Ma'kell's computer that can maybe provide some answers. Ma'Kell was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, burnt brown shorts, and a baseball cap.

His mother says Ma'kell is an intelligent, good-hearted kid but is not like other teenagers because he likes his space and isn't a massive fan of people, so his disappearance caught them off guard.

"This is just very odd for him to just suddenly up and leave," said Spoly.

If anyone has information on Ma'Kell's disappearance, you are asked to call the Dothan police department, Houston County Sheriff's Office, or the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.