Two 13-year-old girls who went missing after leaving a school campus in Colorado were found safe Tuesday morning after arriving at a stranger’s home, authorities said.
The girls — identified as Eva and Neilliy — were last seen at Elbert School on Monday, Dec. 15, around 5 p.m. local time, the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office previously said. They attend The Colorado Springs School and were at Elbert School for a basketball game.
In a message to families, the Elbert School District described the situation as urgent: “We are writing to inform you of a serious situation that occurred last night during our away middle school basketball game in Elbert,” the district said. “Two of our students left the Elbert campus before the game began, and their whereabouts remain unknown at this time.”
At the time they disappeared, both girls were wearing basketball clothing and carrying backpacks, authorities said.
Officials launched a search that included drones, canines, ATVs and teams on foot, covering a five-mile radius around the school, CBS affiliate KCNC reported. The search was later paused overnight.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Dec. 16, Elbert County Undersheriff Dave Fisher announced the girls had been located.
“They are safe, they’re cold, and they are eating breakfast,” Fisher said. He added that Eva and Neilliy were medically evaluated and would be reunited with their families.
Fisher said the girls showed up Tuesday morning at a stranger’s home about seven or eight miles from where they were last seen. The homeowner fed them, helped them warm up, and called police.
Fisher noted the teens are cross–country runners and did not have their cell phones with them when they went missing. Authorities have not said why they left or where they spent the night.
“They’re in good health now,” Fisher said. “I think we can be thankful that they’ve been found and safe.”
Because of the search, the Elbert School District said early Tuesday that school would be closed. After the girls were found, the district shared another update thanking the community for its support and assistance.
