Lockland police spent Tuesday afternoon searching for an 11-year-old girl with autism who was last seen in the 600 block of Mulberry Street. She was reportedly wearing a red Idea Valleyview polo school shirt with a black sweater over it, black pants and black shoes, and officers asked anyone who sees or finds her to call 911.
According to WCPO, the girl was last seen around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. Police did not release her name. FOX19 reported that a news crew was headed to the area and that the station planned to update the story as more information became available.
Accounts of the search's timing and status differ slightly depending on the outlet. Local 12 reported that the search started around 1 p.m. Tuesday, while WCPO placed the girl's last sighting around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday; the station did not resolve the discrepancy. Local 12 also reported that a sergeant said officers were not yet calling her “missing,” a characterization that differs from how other outlets described the search.
Drone Search and Railroad Shutdown
Local 12's report, the primary account of the on-the-ground response, said police used a drone to search the surrounding area, including Mill Creek. The station's report also noted that a nearby railroad was shut down while officers searched along that stretch.
Per the same account, the girl's uncle has custody of her, and the uncle's girlfriend was also at the house when the situation began. The report further noted that the child has run away before and was found about a year ago in an industrial area not far away.
Why Elopement Is a Known Risk for Autistic Children
The behavior described in Lockland reflects a pattern recognized nationally among children on the autism spectrum. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children says elopement may occur in any environment, at any time of day, or from the care of any person, and that children who elope are at extreme risk of drowning.
NCMEC reports that in 2025, at least 104 children and young adults were recovered deceased after eloping, and 87% drowned — with 91% of those who drowned aged 10 or younger, and 66% of drownings occurring in natural or naturally appearing water. The organization also cites data published by the American Academy of Pediatrics indicating that nearly half of children with autism spectrum disorder will go missing or elope from their environment at some point. NCMEC says it offers free resources and training to help support caregivers, first responders and search teams.
A separate Office of Justice Programs abstract found that 1,516 children on the autism spectrum were reported to NCMEC as missing between 2011 and 2016.
No further details on the outcome of Tuesday's search in Lockland have been confirmed.
