Nearly 52 hours after they disappeared, two children who vanished from their front yard have been found safe.
According to News 4 Jax, search teams found Braxton Williams, 6, and sister, Bri’ya Williams, 5, in a swampy area around 400 yards away from their home in Jacksonville. The rescue team was “doing a line search” according to the outlet, meaning they were walking shoulder to shoulder, when they spotted the children.
Both children were inside a decaying pump house. Although they were dehydrated and tired, they’re expected to be OK, police said. They both asked for a cheese pizza.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, the siblings vanished from the 10200 block of West Beaver Street at around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, at the Paradise Village mobile home complex. The children were reported missing a few hours later, police said.
Authorities said the children’s parents have been fully cooperative throughout the investigation.
“It’s a miracle — Christmas miracle. And it’s a blessing. A lot of hard work been done and that’s all I want to say. Thank God for it,” JSO Assistant Chief Ellis Burns told News4Jax
“A lot of times we don’t have great outcomes. This is a glorious day for the city that we were able to do this. But it all goes to show you what the partnership, how it works and how we can make a difference in people’s lives,” JFRD Chief Keith Powers said. “The good thing is that family is fixing to have a wonderful Christmas. They just got the best Christmas present they’ll ever get in their entire life.”
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[Feature Photo: Braxton and Bri’ya Williams/Police Handout]
