Two children with special needs went missing from a Prescott Valley neighborhood over the weekend, triggering an urgent search that ended with both found safe within 10 minutes. One child was discovered in a ravine behind the neighborhood, and the other was found waist-deep in water, according to police.
On Nov. 8, Prescott Valley police received a report of the two children missing from Meadowview Drive, south of State Route 69, according to Arizona's Family. A separate account from SignalsAZ places the report in the 2800 block of Meadowview Drive, where the Prescott Valley Police Department responded to the missing-child call.
Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority crews assisted in the search, deploying a drone to scan the area, the outlet's report notes. Within 10 minutes, search crews found one child in a ravine behind the neighborhood, while the other was found waist-deep in water, police said.
Both Children Rescued Without Injury
Both children were safely rescued, and neither was hurt, per the same account. Prescott Valley police did not release details about the children's ages or gender.
The rapid resolution stands in contrast to a separate case from earlier this year, when a 7-year-old reported missing in Prescott was found in a creek and died, according to a brief 12News report tied to an Aug. 13 call to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office. That case underscores how quickly a missing-child search near water or rugged terrain can turn tragic, making the outcome in this weekend's Prescott Valley search especially welcome news for the families involved.
Police Urge Families to Plan Ahead
In the wake of the search, Prescott Valley police urged families and caregivers to create a safety plan to prevent children from wandering off or becoming separated. Officers suggested talking with children about staying close, checking in before going anywhere, and knowing what to do if they can't see their caregiver.
Police also advised choosing a designated meeting location in case of separation, saying that discussing and practicing these safety steps ahead of time can help keep children safe.
