PIKETON, Ohio — Officials have confirmed that missing 6-year-old Airies Flannery has been found safe.
In a press conference held Thursday evening, Pike County Sheriff Tracy Evans said Airies was found safe at 7:57 p.m. and was "not too far" from her home.
Evans said she was found by firefighters and is currently being medically assessed due to the numerous hours of being exposed to the weather elements.
He said more information will be released at a later time.
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A statewide advisory was issued for a 6-year-old Pike County girl reported missing Thursday morning. Authorities believe Airies Flannery is in danger.
Detectives with the Pike County Sheriff’s Office say Flannery wandered from her home in the 100 block of Hopper Road.
Family members tell 10TV reporter Carla Rogner that they believe she left sometime overnight. They discovered that she was missing around 6 a.m.
Family members also say Airies’ mother passed away a couple of years ago. There are times when she would run off saying she was “looking for mommy.”
Airies would previously go toward the water in a wooded area behind her home, according to the family.
Airies was last seen wearing a long-sleeved tie-dye shirt, dark blue pants and rainbow Crocs. Family members believe she may have taken their cat with her. The sheriff’s office says Airies has a disability but did not provide additional information.
Sheriff Tracy Evans said the longer the search goes on, the more critical it will be. The agency has drones in the air to help search for Airies.
"We are exhausting every effort we can to find this little girl," Evans said.
Airies father, Ryan, said he doesn't know why she may have left their home.
"I just wanted to find my daughter and I need her back home. Everybody back here loves her," Ryan said.
Evans said he doesn't have any evidence that someone took her or any evidence of foul play.
The Southern Ohio Correctional Facility Search and Rescue Team, tracker dogs, Portsmouth ambulance and local fire departments are searching the area.
