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Missing 10-year-old Jefferson County girl found safe 27 miles from home

Posted at 10:47 PM, Nov 16, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-17 16:34:25-05

UPDATE (7:30 a.m.) --Deputies said missing 10-year-old Madeleine Malloy has been found safe.

The girl was located at an apartment complex in Aurora, about 27 miles away from where she went missing. Deputies said the girl knocked on the door of an apartment at about 7 a.m., saying she was hungry. The residents fed her and then called law enforcement.

Deputies said it's not clear how Madeleine got to Aurora, but they don't believe she was abducted.

The girl didn't seem to know where she was, deputies said. They'll be canvassing the neighborhood where she went missing as well as the neighborhood where she was found in order to try to determine how she got from one place to the other.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office released details later Friday that Malloy had hid in the family friend’s vehicle without them knowing.

“She left the vehicle after it was park at the friend’s home for the night. She was located at a nearby residence this a.m.,” the sheriff’s office tweeted.


ORIGINAL STORY:

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. – Authorities in Jefferson County need your help to find a missing 10-year-old girl from Golden.

Madeleine Malloy, 10, left her home near Long Lake Regional Park at around 5 p.m. Thursday and hasn’t been seen since, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

She’s 4 feet tall, weighs 75 pounds and has long blond frizzy hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a pink-striped blouse with green pants (see second photo in this story) and may have a jacket with pink and purple hearts.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is urging you to call them at (303) 271-0211 if you see Malloy. 

Several agencies were helping in the search including the F.B.I., Golden and Arvada Police Departments, and Flight for Life was using infrared cameras to sense heat on the ground. 

The search is going on in a large area from North Table Mountain to Long Lake Regional Park and from Highway 93 to McIntyre Street.

At 5:17 a.m. Friday the sheriff's office asked for volunteers to assist in the search.

You must be 18 years old, bring a photo I.D., wear proper clothing and have a background check to help with the search.

Authorities also request you know your physical limitations.

You cannot volunteer if you have a felony conviction, conviction of a crime against a child, misdemeanor conviction for unlawful sexual conduct, outstanding warrant or are listed as the restrained party in a protection order.

Many people questioned why the sheriff's office had not issued an Amber Alert. 

This response was posted on the office's facebook page:

"The question regarding an Amber Alert is often raised with missing children. There are certain criteria that must be met for an Amber Alert to be issued. One of those criteria is evidence of an abduction. We do not have reason to believe this child was abducted. There is no requirement that a vehicle be involved for an Amber Alert, although that is often the case. It is still possible an Amber Alert will be issued but the criteria have not been met at this time."