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Incredible moment Florida K-9 locates missing 11-year-old girl: Watch

A video shows a Florida K-9 Mary Lu locating a missing and endangered 11-year-old girl on Friday, January 26

Published on: Jan 30, 2024, 06:46:08 IST
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A video shows a Florida K-9 locating a missing and endangered 11-year-old girl on Friday, January 26. Law enforcement said the girl was found in a park bathroom.

The K-9 alerted officials to a locked bathroom door at a park (@HCSOSheriff/X)
The K-9 alerted officials to a locked bathroom door at a park (@HCSOSheriff/X)

At around 8 pm, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputy Sarah Ernstes and K-9 Mary Lu responded to the 16000 block of Carlton Lake Drive. The two went on to track the girl in a neighbour’s house, where they were told that residents had given the child a ride to an apartment complex in Wimauma, which was nearby.

Sharing the video on X, the sheriff’s office wrote, “Our units headed to that location, where K9 Mary Lu, a bloodhound, was able to alert our deputies to a locked bathroom door at a park in the area. Our deputies located the missing girl inside the locked bathroom and were able to successfully talk her into unlocking the door, where she was found safe and without injury.”

"Our teamHCSO K9 Unit has once again proven its invaluable role in our community," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “With their exceptional skills, they successfully located and brought home a missing 11-year-old girl, reuniting her safely with her family. I couldn't be prouder of our team's commitment to service and determination to protect and serve.”

‘Way to go Mary Lu’

Many commented on the video, with one saying, “That was so heartwarming and for once had a happy ending. Mary Lu was so awesome! Hats off to Deputy Sarah Ernstes and Sheriff Chad Chronister too.” “This is so wholesome and sweet,” one user wrote, while another said, “Way to go Mary Lu”.

“Deputy Ernst and Deputy MaryLu are heroes! Thank God for our dedicated officers and K-9s!” one user said, while another wrote, “Great job officers!” “K9's are amazing! Gotta love a pup with a good sniffer!” one user said.

  • Sumanti Sen
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Sumanti Sen

    Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More

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