3-year-old missing in SC state park found safe, sheriff says
Ruby Heider was found Saturday morning after disappearing while on a family camping trip in Poinsett State Park. The 3-year-old girl was found in the “wood line” at approximately 11:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, less than a mile from the camp site, according to a statement released by the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.
“Sheriff Dennis thanks the many citizens who helped in many ways but also for the prayers for Ruby’s safe return. He is thankful to acknowledge that those prayers were answered this morning,” the sheriff’s office said.
The search for Heider had been ongoing since Friday night. After receiving a call, deputies and multiple agencies searched well into the night trying to find Heider who went missing around 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Heider went missing during a “family camping event,” according to a statement from the sheriff’s office.
Poinsett State Park has been closed to the public while the search is ongoing. “We are asking the public to stand by and not crowd the limited rural roads in the immediate area,” Sumter Sheriff’s Office Major Randall Stewart wrote in a statement.
In a statement, the sheriff’s office thanked the Sumter City Police Department, Park Rangers, DNR, SLED, the FBI, Shaw AFB personnel, Lee County, Sumter County EMS and Fire department, and volunteers from the community who showed up to assist the search.
Located in Sumter County, Poinsett State Park covers over 1,000 acres of forest, rivers and trails.
This story was originally published September 24, 2022 at 10:57 AM.