Missing teen of Slack co-founder discovered in van with man, 26, now charged with kidnapping

Stewart Butterfield and Caterina Fake, prominent figures in the tech world, breathed a sigh of relief as their child, Mint Butterfield, was located safe in San Francisco. The 16-year-old, who identifies as non-binary (they/them pronouns), had vanished from their Bolinas residence on April 21st, sparking a frantic search.

Mint was found over the weekend with Christopher “Kio” Dizefalo, a 26-year-old man, according to the Marin County Sheriff’s Office. Dizefalo, described as an acquaintance of Mint’s, now faces charges of kidnapping and other offenses. Authorities apprehended him in the Tenderloin district, a known high-risk area, inside a white van with Mint.

Thankfully, Mint was unharmed. Although they had previously expressed suicidal thoughts, they assured investigators they left home willingly. However, there are suspicions that Dizefalo may have influenced their decision.

Mint’s parents, along with their stepfather Jyri Engeström, expressed their gratitude to everyone who assisted in the search. They particularly commended law enforcement for their awareness of potential predators who exploit teens.

“A heartfelt thanks to all the family, friends, volunteers and strangers who called in tips and made this recovery possible,” parents and stepdad, tech founder Jyri Engeström, wrote in email to the San Francisco Standard and other local news. “We especially want to thank the seasoned law enforcement officers who understand the very real threat of predators who use the allure of drugs to groom teenagers.”

Prior to the reunion, a note left by Mint suggested they planned to leave. Authorities had focused their search on the Tenderloin district based on past visits by Mint.