CNS –
Bowling Green, KY – A tense search for a missing 5-year-old child came to a successful conclusion late Thursday evening when authorities discovered the young girl hiding in a car at a local motel. The search had gripped the Bowling Green community for several hours, prompting widespread concern as officials worked tirelessly to locate the child.
The girl, who had been reported missing earlier that afternoon, was last seen playing in the yard of her home. When she failed to return inside, her parents alerted local law enforcement, sparking an immediate response. Police launched a search in the area, canvassing neighborhoods and alerting nearby businesses and residents.
“We were extremely concerned when we first received the report,” said Officer Maria Henson, the lead investigator on the case. “We always raise immediate alarms when a child goes missing, especially at such a young age.” We did everything we could to find her as quickly as possible.”
After hours of searching the surrounding area, authorities received a tip that the child might be in the vicinity of the Bowling Green Motel, located just a few miles from her home. Surveillance footage from the motel’s parking lot showed a vehicle that appeared to have been idle for several hours, prompting officers to investigate further.
When officers approached the car, they noticed signs that someone might be hiding inside. Upon closer inspection, they discovered the young girl curled up in the backseat. She appeared to be unharmed but frightened.
“We are just relieved that she was found safe,” said Bowling Green Police Chief, Sarah Riley. “It’s always a reminder of how quickly things can escalate when a child goes missing. We’re so grateful for the community’s support and the diligent work of our officers.”
The girl’s parents were quickly reunited with their daughter at the scene, and emotional reunions followed. Her family expressed immense gratitude to the law enforcement agencies involved in the search.
Her mother, clearly emotional, expressed, “It’s the best feeling in the world to have her back in our arms.” “We never stopped hoping, and we can’t thank the officers enough for bringing her home.”
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Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the child’s disappearance, including how she ended up at the motel and why she was hiding in the car. While the motive behind her actions remains unclear, the child has been placed in the care of her family, and the investigation is ongoing.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of community vigilance and the swift action of local law enforcement when a child’s safety is at risk. The Bowling Green Police Department extended its thanks to the community for its cooperation and support during the search.
For now, however, the family is simply grateful for the safe return of their daughter, who will undoubtedly be the subject of many loving embraces in the days to come.
A 5-year-old boy thought to be missing on the south edge of Bowling Green was found around 3 p.m., reportedly hiding in the back of a family member’s car, according to a Wood County Sheriff’s Department dispatcher.
The report came in around 1:30 p.m. that the little boy was missing after last being seen in the area of the Best Motel on South Main Street in Bowling Green. It was initially reported that the child was barefooted.
Officers from several law enforcement agencies and fire departments began searching for the boy. Drones were deployed, and personnel at Home Depot, Walmart, and Burger King checked their surveillance cameras to see if the boy had passed their locations, the dispatcher said.
Store staffs in the strip mall south of Gypsy Lane Road checked their stores and restrooms, the park district checked restrooms near the Slippery Elm Trail, and community members offered their help, the dispatcher added.
The child was found at 2:52 p.m., hiding in the back of a vehicle at the motel, where his family was staying. The family is not from Wood County, according to the dispatcher.