Missing Massachusetts Teen Found Following Partner’s Arrest for Stabbing

At 6:30 a.m. on February 7th, Nick Pollinger went to awaken his daughter Aubrey for school in Northbridge, Massachusetts. However, Aubrey was not in her room or anywhere else in the house, her bed empty and her favorite possessions including her sneaker collection and her cellphone left behind. The family suspected she could be with Patricio Bautista Matus, a 23-year-old man Aubrey met during her work as a hostess at Goodstuff Smokehouse. Aubrey’s mother, Becky Pollinger, had secured a restraining order against Bautista Matus five days before her daughter’s disappearance. Bautista Matus, a resident of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and a cook at the restaurant, had been legally ordered not to contact the 16-year-old or approach her school or residence. Flyers featuring the missing teenager were distributed throughout the town. Urgent pleas were made on the news, asking the community to stay alert and contact local law enforcement with any leads on Aubrey’s location. Becky described her youngest of four children as a humorous, big-hearted young girl, known for her funny and sarcastic tone, and was desperate to find her. As days passed, the family learned Bautista Matus was possibly heading south with Aubrey, possibly to the Miami area where Bautista Matus had previously lived. Despite the family’s pleas to bring Aubrey home, Bautista Matus refused. However, Bautista Matus came to law enforcement’s attention following a violent incident at a public rail station in Atlanta. As per an arrest report, Bautista Matus had assaulted a man at the MARTA Peachtree Center Station on the morning of February 24th. He was taken to Fulton County jail, charged with aggravated assault and possession of a knife in the commission of a felony. Following this incident and after three weeks of desperate searching, the Pollinger family discovered that Aubrey was in Georgia. Her mother immediately set off to Atlanta to bring Aubrey home from a local children’s hospital. The family expressed that Aubrey would remain listed as ‘missing’ until she was returned to her home. Prior to Aubrey’s disappearance, the family had cautioned Bautista Matus against spending time with the underage girl. However, upon finding out about secret visits, Becky secured a restraining order. Despite the tumultuous times, Becky stood firm in support of her daughter, expressing that she would come and get her at any time.