Missing 16-Year-Old Found Safe After Search in Bollinger County

BOLLINGER COUNTY, Mo. — A 16-year-old girl was found safe Monday morning after a search near Highway O and State Highway 72, the Bollinger County Sheriff’s Office said.

Authorities identified the girl as Ella Lovell. The sheriff’s office said she had walked away from her home in the area, prompting a search involving local law enforcement, fire departments and search-and-rescue teams.

The effort brought together agencies from several nearby communities. The Madison County and Cape Girardeau County sheriff’s offices and the Fredericktown Police Department assisted, along with the North Bollinger County and Sedgewickville fire departments.

Members of the Region E Search and Rescue Team also responded, including personnel from Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Sikeston. K-9 teams from SEMO Regional and Missouri Valley joined the search, along with deputies and the K-9 unit from the Bollinger County Sheriff’s Office.

After the girl was located, Sheriff Petton thanked the agencies and teams that helped. He also recognized the deputies and K-9 teams for their work in finding her.

The sheriff’s office confirmed that Lovell was safe. No further details about the search were provided in the report.