The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office is reporting that a missing and endangered 17 year old female was located early this morning in a wooded section of Curtis Park in Stafford.

Stafford Deputies responded to an address on Tracey Lane in the Hartwood section of Stafford last night, Tuesday, May 27, at approximately 7:30 pm for a report of a missing 17 year old female with diminished intellectual capabilities. The teen had run away from her residence into the woods near her home. Stafford deputies immediately initiated a search for the teen but were unable to locate her. Members of the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office Volunteer Search & Rescue Team were activated as well as additional Sheriff’s Office personnel. A lengthy search was begun that would ultimately include a helicopter and bloodhound from the Virginia State Police as well as dogs from Dog’ East, a local volunteer organization that uses their dogs to assist in search and rescue missions and Stafford Sheriff’s Office K-9 units These resources worked all night in a coordinated effort to locate the teen.

This morning at approximately 6:30 am, a woman jogging in Curtis Park, heard the lost teen yelling for help and notified deputies in the area. After walking through very heavy brush, deputies and members of the Search & Rescue Team located the teen in the woods, in good condition, and returned her to her parents and waiting medical units who checked her condition.

“The combined efforts of the deputies, members of the Search & Rescue Team, assets from the Virginia State Police and an alert citizen worked together to find this young lady,” states Sheriff Charles Jett. “I am especially grateful to the men and women who volunteer to be a part of the Search & Rescue Team. Their willingness to help those in need, sometimes under very adverse conditions, is noted and appreciated.”