Mother pleads for safe return of missing Moorhead girl

MOORHEAD, Minn. (Valley News Live) – A mom is making an urgent plea for her safe return a daughter who has been missing for almost two weeks.

As of January 22, 2025, Shannon Kamal is stuck waiting and watching. She was scrolling through social media when she found a post explaining that her daughter, who she had last seen eight years ago, had gone missing.

“I was scrolling through posts about missing people and I saw one and thought, ‘Wow, she’s pretty!’ Then I saw a name that said ‘Counts,’” Kamal said.

Ariana Counts, 15, was last seen in Moorhead nearly two weeks ago.

Her biological mother, Shannon, lost custody in 2016 and has been missing her daughter ever since.

“When you see them on a missing person’s poster, it’s hard. It’s very, very difficult,” she added.

A rocky start, Ariana was eventually adopted by the Moorhead family. Still, it never left Shannon’s mind.

“I never stopped loving her. I never stopped loving my children.”

Guardianship or not, she thinks anyone should help her find her girlfriend. “It doesn’t matter what mom or dad did, this child has to be found,” Kamal explained.

I am trying to find her, but within her legal rights.

Valley News Live asked the Moorhead Police Department about these types of legalities, which referred us to the Clay County District Attorney’s office. Captain Derrick Swenson made a brief statement and said, “In regards to contacting the birth mother, we would encourage her to cooperate with us, just as we would ask any member of the community to assist in bringing together and determining the safety of the runners.”

After Shannon shared about Ariana’s missing posters on social media, she said she received several negative comments. She said: “These people are focused on my guardianship status but my daughter is missing. We don’t know if she’s safe or not, that’s the point now, we have to make sure she’s safe.’

Praying for her safety, Kamal added that she is related to several women involved in cases of disappearances or murders of indigenous people. She is from the Spirit Lake Reservation and has ties to Savanna Graywindwho was brutally murdered in 2017, and Gemini Poseywho has been missing since January 2024. She wants Ariana to know that she can turn to these siblings for any help she needs.

“I know 100% that this Native American community will support them.”

With her as Shannon from afar for years.

If you know where Ariana is, call the Moorhead Police Department at 701-451-7660.