x
Breaking News
More () »

10-year-old girl at center of massive search in Bee County has been found safe, sheriff confirms

Now that she has been found, 3News has chosen to remove her name and picture to minimize harm.

BEEVILLE, Texas — Law enforcement agencies across the Coastal Bend have ended their search for the 10-year-old girl that went missing earlier Monday morning. 

The 10-year-old girl was last seen around 1:30 a.m. in the Windridge Subdivision off of FM 351 in Bee County, officials said. 

UPDATE: 9:40 P.M.

Around 9:15 p.m. 3News received confirmation from Bee County Sheriff Alden Southmayd that the 10-year-old girl was found safe at a friend's house. 

Now that she has been found, 3News has chosen to remove her name and picture.

The girl was last seen wearing blue jeans, a black long sleeve undershirt, and possibly a yellow polo shirt and grey hoodie, according to a post from Bee County Office of Emergency Management.

"We've been conducting an extensive ground search and also with social media for a 10-year-old girl who, we believe she left home around 1:30 in the morning," Bee County Sheriff Alden Southmayd said early Monday.

RELATED: When is an AMBER Alert issued for a missing child?

A family member heard a door open and close around that time, Southmayd said, and then noticed the girl was missing. Rumors of the girl being found are not true, officials said. 

"We've had two different scent specific canine searches that haven't come up with anything," Southmayd said. "We've had Coast Guard helicopters in the air, DPS drones in the air, and like I said its been a very extensive ground search and that's still going on, but right now we don't have any clues whatsoever."

Several agencies had been called in to assist with the search, including the Coast Guard. 

The Beeville Fire Department, Beeville Police Department and the Bee County Sheriff's Office had also been near the scene looking for any clues as to where the child may be.

Don’t be alarmed if you see the US Coast Guard helicopter circling around town. They were requested to help with the search of the missing child and are in the area now.

Posted by Beeville Fire Department on Monday, December 13, 2021

Note: Law enforcement officials confirmed the girl is 10, not 11 as first reported. 

For the latest updates on coronavirus in the Coastal Bend, click here.

More from 3News on KIIITV.com:

Before You Leave, Check This Out