PIKE COUNTY, Ohio — The search for a missing 6-year-old child in Pike County is over. The child was reported missing from their home in the 100 block of Hopper Road around 6:30 AM today.
The parents, officials said woke up to find the child gone, having disappeared sometime during the night.
Aries Flannery was located “not far from her home,” according to county Sheriff Tracy Evans, “deep in the woods.” The Sheriff said the search had gone on for nearly 14 hours before she was located “in the elements.” The area had been drenched in rain on-and-off throughout the day.
Search and rescue teams, including a drone and K-9 unit, scoured the heavily wooded area. Multiple agencies were involved, including the FBI, BCI, local fire departments, the Highway Patrol, the state prison system’s SRT team who specializes in searching for persons; as well as numerous volunteers.
In the morning, deputies with the Sheriff’s office began searching the residences of local sex offenders within the search area.
Around 7:30 p.m., Evans announced he was holding a press conference. Shortly after, an alert was sent out that the young girl was found.
“It affects me. I’m a father of five. So, when a child goes missing, it’s like one of my own out there and that’s how we treat it,” the Sheriff said.
The Sheriff said he could not comment if criminal charges would be filed against the family or anyone else. The cat the young girl was last seen with has not been found.
