A missing Louisiana girl was found sleeping in the woods after a daylong search by officers using drones with thermal imaging cameras.
Peyton Saintignan, 10, disappeared from her Dubberly home and was last seen on September 14 when she went to bed wearing blue Frozen-themed pajamas and no shoes.
Sheriff of Webster Parish Jason Parker said she had run away from home and was caught on camera walking through a wooded area.
Police launched an intensive search involving hundreds of volunteers and a number of agencies on September 15 when Drone Management Services LLC of Magnolia, Arkansas offered their services.
Using the company’s thermal imaging drones, police found the young girl curled up sleeping on the forest floor.
A missing Louisiana girl was found sleeping in the woods by officials using drones with thermal imaging cameras
Police woke Peyton Saintignan (pictured), 10, from her sleep on the forest floor and carried her to safety
“She was located in dense woodland approximately 300 yards from where she was captured on a trail camera earlier Sunday morning,” Parker said.
“She was asleep when we found her. We had her checked out by EMS and she’s fine, back home and hungry.”
Drone Management Services provided vital services to law enforcement after a family member heard about the rescue attempt.
“We had the DeSoto Parish helicopter in the air and were unable to get drones in the air at that time, but when we were able to, Josh Klober, Matt Ramos and Micah Carter took their equipment and successfully located the young girl,” Parker said.
The drone footage captured Saintignan being woken up by rescuers at around 11pm and brought to safety.
The thermal drones discovered the girl lying in the woods, allowing rescuers to walk to her and bring her to the main road
She disappeared from her home in Dubberly and was last seen going to bed on September 14. She was captured on a trail camera the following day (see photo).
The 10-year-old (pictured) was examined by the ambulance service and she is fine, back home and hungry
“Drone Management Services was honored to play a part in the search and rescue operation. It was truly heartwarming to witness the moment Peyton was found sleeping peacefully in the woods,” said the company said.
The Louisiana State Police, Webster Parish School Board, Advanced Ambulance, Daubery Police Dept., Dixie Inn Police Department, Crossroads Canine Search and Rescue and numerous other drone and dog teams contributed to the search.
“I can’t tell you how happy we all are that this has a happy ending,” Parker said. “A lot of prayers were answered today.
“And I especially want to thank all the agencies that helped bring Peyton home safely, and all the volunteers who gave their time and effort. This was truly a team effort.”