A missing 12-year-old North County girl with the mental capacity of an 8-year-old was found safe and reunited with her parents early Thursday.
Rylee Annmarie Elder was reported missing by her parents just before 7 p.m. Wednesday, after she got into an argument with her stepfather in the area of North Nutmeg Street and Sunset Heights Road in an unincorporated area of Escondido, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.
A deputy found her walking down a street around 3:20 a.m., sheriff’s Sgt. Henry Lebitski said. Rylee told authorities she had gone to a friend’s house, then left, he said in a statement.
Rylee’s mother, Tanya Allsup, told 10News that her daughter suffers from bipolar disorder and is need of daily medication. She also said that at the time of her disappearance, Rylee and her stepfather were arguing and he kicked her out of his car and told her to walk home, which was nearby.
A helicopter, K-9 units, juvenile detectives and an urban search and rescue team were used in the search, as well as 11 other units, according to sheriff’s Lt. Jim Bolwerk.
— City News Service