Dallas police confirmed Wednesday that two young girls reported missing earlier in the day have been located and transported to a hospital for medical evaluation and interviews with investigators.
The girls ages 5 and 13 were last seen around 5 a.m. in the 1400 block of Belleview Drive near South Akard Street in Dallas. Both were spotted carrying distinctive pink glittery backpacks at the time of their disappearance.
Authorities classified the case as a critical missing persons situation shortly after the girls were reported gone. The designation allowed law enforcement to mobilize additional resources and issue a public alert to the surrounding community.
Dallas police credited their drone units with locating the two children. Officers deployed the aerial technology to search the area and were able to track down both girls before the situation escalated further.
Once found the girls were taken to a local hospital where medical staff began evaluating their condition. Investigators are also conducting interviews as part of the ongoing inquiry into the circumstances surrounding their disappearance.
The case drew immediate concern from the community given the young ages of the children involved and the early morning hour at which they were last seen. A 5-year-old and a 13-year-old being unaccounted for in an urban area prompted a swift and coordinated response from Dallas law enforcement.
The use of drone technology in locating the girls highlights the growing role that aerial surveillance tools are playing in police search operations across North Texas. Dallas police have increasingly relied on drone units in time-sensitive missing persons cases to cover large areas quickly and efficiently.
No additional details about the condition of the girls or the circumstances that led to their disappearance have been released by authorities at this time. The investigation remains active and police have not yet disclosed whether any other individuals are being sought in connection with the incident.
Dallas police are asking anyone who may have seen the girls earlier Wednesday morning or who has any relevant information to contact 911 immediately. Investigators are continuing to gather details and the full picture of what happened is still being pieced together.
The South Akard Street corridor and surrounding neighborhoods in Dallas have seen increased police activity in recent months as the department works to address public safety concerns in the area. Wednesday’s incident added urgency to those ongoing efforts.
The identities of the two girls have not been publicly released by police at this time likely due to their status as minors and the ongoing nature of the investigation.
