A teenage girl from Georgia who went missing earlier this week at Fort Yargo State Park has been found unharmed, her family announced. Kaelyn Phillips, 16, vanished on Monday around 1:30 a.m. from Campground 2, sparking an intensive search. According to her mother, Misty Phillips, the family's relief came after a tip led to her recovery in North Carolina, as she shared in a Facebook post dedicated to the search. "We are provided information that she is safe with police," Misty Phillips wrote, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
The broad search effort was coordinated in part by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which confirmed her safe recovery. Positive news came after Fort Yargo State Park had been closed temporarily to the public during the intense search by authorities, including ground teams with K-9 units and aerial drones, as said by Misty Phillips, her mother who asked for privacy in a statement obtained by Atlanta News First. The closure aimed to prevent any scent trails being crossed, critical in the search for the missing teen.
Winder Police Department confirmed the girl's safety and indicated that no foul play is believed to be involved. Police Chief Jim Fullington extended his gratitude, in a message on Facebook, to the various agencies and community members who contributed to the successful localization of Phillips. "We are thankful she is safe, and we would like to express gratitude for all of the support and help from the community along with the assistance from the GBI and Barrow County Sheriff's office as well as the Department of Natural Resources and Fort Yargo State park personnel," Fullington wrote, as FOX 5 Atlanta reported.
In the days prior to her discovery, details emerged from the Phillips family that none of Kaelyn's personal belongings had been disturbed — her phone, identification, medication, and clothing were left untouched, with the teen assumed to have been transported across state lines based on the police's statement. The public's help was immensely appreciated, given the severity of the situation, with her mother describing her as "one of the smartest, kindest, and most loving humans we all know," in the plea for assistance to find her daughter, which was echoed by Atlanta News First.
