Phoenix/ Crime & Emergencies
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Published on April 27, 2024
Missing 8-Year-Old Girl from Gilbert Found Safe With Relatives Out of StateSource: Facebook/Gilbert Police Department

An 8-year-old girl from Gilbert, Arizona, who had been reported missing, was found safe on Thursday evening. Zariah Lum was located with family members out of state, according to Gilbert police. The details surrounding her disappearance were initially sparse, causing concern among local authorities.

The search for Zariah began after she was last witnessed on Wednesday morning around 7:30 a.m., in the vicinity of Gilbert Road and Houston Avenue. Media outlets jumped into action following a call for public assistance from the Gilbert Police Department on Thursday afternoon. Speaking to the community through ABC15, officials sparked a widespread effort to locate the missing child.

Concerns for Zariah's safety had intensified after she was seen with her father, with the Gilbert police not disclosing further details about why they believed she was endangered. This lack of immediate transparency left the public grappling with numerous unanswered questions as authorities continued their search.

Police had not revealed the means through which Zariah was found. Citing the findings of the police, azfamily.com reported that while specifics are scant, the girl's safety has been assured. The exact circumstances and the dynamics of her short-lived disappearance remain under wraps, but the community breathes a sigh of relief as another child is spared from the tragedy of an extended vanishing.

As of now, further updates on this incident have not been provided, leaving the public to wonder about the events leading up to and following Zariah's disappearance. The Gilbert police have yet to share additional information following the reunion of Zariah with her family. In these cases, often a mix of relief and frustration abides, as every safe return is a tale of triumph.