EFFINGHAM CO., Ill.—Authorities having searched for a little girl missing in the Altamont area of Effingham County are reporting at this hour that the toddler has been found.
Three-year-old Alexie Followell was reported missing from her home off Moccasin Road north of Altamont before noon today (Thursday, August 7).
According to official press information, police had Moccasin Road blocked to through traffic just east of the Altamont blacktop and were searching fields on foot and via aerial search.
At around 3 p.m., however, the little girl was located, after missing for about three hours; the search had reported gone on for about an hour.
Here’s the Illinois State Police press release on the matter:
EFFINGHAM, Ill. – Illinois State Police (ISP) District 12 today confirmed a missing three-year-old child was located in a cornfield in rural Altamont. The child was safely reunited with her family after being missing for approximately three hours.
Illinois State Police Air Operations was called to the scene to assist ground search crews in locating the child. Search efforts were complicated by dense vegetation and rainfall. “We are grateful to all the people who volunteered their time and efforts to help search for the missing child,” stated ISP District 12 Commander, Captain Kelly Hodge. “The outpouring of public support and tireless efforts of emergency workers brought this search to a successful conclusion,” he added.
In addition to neighbors and other members of the community, the Altamont Police Department, Altamont Fire Department, Effingham County Sheriff’s Department, Effingham City Police Department Effingham County Fire Department, Tri County Fire Department, Watson Fire Department, Effingham Fire Department, St. Elmo Fire Department, Edgewood Fire Department, Effingham County Search and Rescue, Illinois Secretary of State Police, Illinois Department of Conservation, Illinois State Police District 12, and Illinois State Police Air Operations worked together to return the three-year-old safely to her home.