Missing Webster Parish Child Found Safe And Asleep In Woods

It had to be the longest day ever for the family of 10-year-old Peyton Saintignan.

Get our free mobile app

Shortly before 1:00 pm Sunday, it was reported to the Webster Parish Sheriff's Department that the child was missing from her Magnolia Road home in Dubberly. She was last seen at bedtime late Saturday night reportedly wearing blue frozen pajamas and no shoes.

Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker said investigators believe the child may have wandered away from her home. “We immediately dispatched all our resources and began conducting an exhaustive search of the area,” Parker said.

“We dispatched our drones and contacted other agencies to assist in the search. Homeland Security also dispatched their drones and are still on the scene.”

Parker said tracking dogs from Wade Correctional began to search heavily wooded areas near the child’s residence. Louisiana State Police issued a Level 2 Endangered or Missing Child Amber Alert and the Minden Police Department has dispatched officers to assist.

Sunday evening after receiving a tip that the child had been photographed on a hunter's game camera, the hunt for the child intensified with added resources like a helicopter equipped with thermal tracking brought in from the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Additionally, hundreds of civilian volunteers began to search the area, so much so, that Sheriff Parker had to ask them to refrain from searching the wooded areas because of the confusion it could cause with drone images and with tracking dogs possibly confused from too many scents in the areas.

Because of the quick and massive action by the many first responders, and a good dose of modern technology, at 11:00 pm last night, little Peyton was discovered with the aid of thermal imaging-equipped drones offered by a Magnolia, Arkansas company that heard of the search and offered assistance.

Sheriff Parker said, “She was in dense woods roughly 300 yards from where a trail camera had recorded her earlier Sunday morning. “She was asleep when we found her. We’ve had her checked by EMS and she is fine, back at home and hungry.”

Parker said he was contacted by Drone Management Services LLC of Magnolia with the offer of assistance from their specially equipped drones. A member of the company learned of the search from his brother-in-law, a Minden resident.

“We had the DeSoto Parish helicopter in the air and couldn’t put drones up at the time, but when it was possible, Josh Klober, Matt Ramos and Micah Carter brought their equipment and successfully located the young girl,” Parker said.

During the intense search, a large number of agencies provided personnel and equipment. Those included the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office, Minden Police Dept., Minden Fire Dept., Homeland Security, DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office, Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office, David Wade Correction Chase Team and LA Wildlife and Fisheries.

Also, 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.

“I can’t tell you how thrilled we all are to have a happy ending to this,” Parker said. “A lot of prayers were answered today. “And, I want especially to thank all the agencies who helped bring Peyton safely home, and all the volunteers who gave their time and efforts. This was truly a cooperative effort.”