7 Year Old Willow Long Missing Since 9/8/13 in Watson, IL

[Red]

7 Year Old Willow Long Missing Since 9/8/13 in Watson, IL

http://scaredmonkeys.com/2013/09/08/7-year-old-willow-long-missing-since-9813-in-watson-il/

7 year old Willow Long has been missing since Sunday morning, September 8, 2013 in Watson, Illinois. Willow walked away from her home on Circle Drive in Watson Sunday morning after an argument with her mother, and has not been seen since. She was reported missing by her parents at approximately 10:15 this morning.

Willow is approximately 4-foot tall, and has shoulder-length red hair. She was last seen wearing a long purple shirt, oversize like a nightgown.

If anyone has seen Willow, or know of her location, please call the Effingham County Sheriff’s Department at (217) 342-2101.

[Red]

UPDATE: Authorities Searching for Missing Watson Girl

http://www.thexradio.com/news/78-local-news/7442-update-authorities-searching-for-missing-watson-girl

Throughout the afternoon Sunday, authorities have been searching the area, coordinating from the Watson Fire Station. Over 400 volunteers have turned out, and are being utilized in a grid-search pattern within a radius of 20 square-miles from Long's home. Volunteers were on hold for a time, so as to not interfere with police dogs, and as an Illinois State Police plane and Air Evac helicopter used thermal imaging to search for the girl.

10PM UPDATE: Authorities tell us they are about to begin a search north of Chaparral Subdivision, in grid-formation, based on earlier tracking dogs indications of possible northern travel by Long. They also tell us they have enough side-by-side's and 4-wheelers.

A large crowd still remains at the Watson Fire Station, with many of them waiting to be dispatched on 4-wheelers and side-by-sides. Horse teams are also set to begin searching.

8:30PM UPDATE: Effingham County Sheriff John Monnet said, "We don't feel there's foul play, that she just walked off. We're gonna continue until we find her". The Sheriff said, however, "it's been quite a time since she's been missing, and time is not a good thing." Monnet said Willow's mother Cierra Deryke was feeling ill, and was in bed. She got up once to check on Willow and her 3-year old brother, and they were watching TV. She got up later and Willow was gone. She asked her son where Willow was, and the boy pointed toward the front door

[Tamikosmom]

UPDATE: Hundreds aid in search for missing girl
September 8, 2013

WATSON — More than 400 volunteers prepared to search through the night for missing Willow Long. As of 10 p.m. Sunday, the 7-year-old Watson girl had not been found after a daylong search. …

Effingham County Sheriff’s Department had already checked with Long’s friends and other places she may have gone before turning their attention to the railroad tracks near her home and the fields north of Watson.

A search dog was believed to have picked up her scent Sunday night, and the search was narrowed to a nearly 20-square-mile area of bean and corn fields. At last report, approximately 9 square miles had been searched. Foul play is not suspected in the disappearance.

http://effinghamdailynews.com/local/x250210087/Police-search-for-missing-Watson-girl

[theboyzmom]

This poor kid is the same age as my youngest. I can not imagine the fear and horror mom must be going through.

[Tamikosmom]

Willow Long missing since Sunday
7:41 AM, Sep 9, 2013

WATSON, Ill. (KSDK) -A massive search is underway in Effingham County, Ill. for a missing 7-year-old girl

More than 400 volunteers have been searching near Willow Long's home in Watson, Ill. in Effingham County. They will continued to search overnight into Monday.

Willow walked away from her home on Circle Drive Sunday morning after an argument with her mother.

Willow is approximately four feet tall, and has shoulder-length red hair. She was last seen wearing a long purple shirt, oversize like a nightgown.

<snipped>

http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/396829/3/Willow-Long-missing-since-Sunday

[MuffyBee]

This poor kid is the same age as my youngest. I can not imagine the fear and horror mom must be going through.

I know what you mean, TBM.  I hope Willow can be found safe and soon. 

[MuffyBee]

They have FB and twitter and are posting updates on the case:

http://www.thexradio.com/news/78-local-news/7442-update-authorities-searching-for-missing-watson-girl
UPDATE: Authorities Searching for Missing Watson Girl
Published on September 8 2013 12:54 pm   
Last Updated on September 9 2013 9:07 am

(scroll down for updates at link)

8AM UPDATE: Effingham County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Paul Kuhns says there is still no evidence of foul play. Searchers have now covered an 8-square mile radius from Long's home, and found nothing. Authorities are also going door to door in areas that were previously searched. Kuhns encoraged those in rural area to check their outbuildings. Kuhns said, "if anything is found out of place, a toy that might be in a different spot than they remember it being, please phone the Sheriff's office at 217-342-2101". When asked about the length of the search, Kuhns aknowledged, "time is not our friend".

Firefighter J.R. Niemann asked that any video shot in this area Sunday, should be taken to the Sheriff's department. He said people that shot video may have been filming one thing, but they may have captured something that might be beneficial to police in locating the missing Willow Long, now approaching the 24-hour period since she's been seen.

Volunteers should report to the Watson Civic Center, located one block east of the fire station. People wishing to donate items like bottled water and other supplies to help searchers, should take items to the Watson Civic Center.
 

https://www.facebook.com/979XFM

979 XFM
about an hour ago
8AM UPDATE: Officials ask that people living in rural areas around Watson check any outbuildings, barns and sheds for any sign of Long. Sgt. Paul Kuhns of the Effingham County Sheriff's Department says, "time is not our friend." LATEST UPDATE: http://goo.gl/2NxthR


   

[MuffyBee]

September 9, 2013 Tweets (Read from bottom up)
https://twitter.com/979Xfm

79 Xfm ‏@979Xfm 59m
Officials ask that residents in rural areas around Watson check all outbuildings for any sign of Long. LATEST UPDATE: http://goo.gl/2NxthR

 979 Xfm ‏@979Xfm 1h
Sgt. Paul Kuhns of the Effingham County Sheriff's Department says, "time is not our friend." LATEST UPDATE: http://goo.gl/2NxthR

 979 Xfm ‏@979Xfm 1h
Police briefing now on missing Watson girl, update coming soon. STORY: http://goo.gl/2NxthR

 979 Xfm ‏@979Xfm 9h
VIDEO: Press conference with Effingham County Sheriff John Monnet, & latest update on missing Watson girl: http://goo.gl/2NxthR

 979 Xfm ‏@979Xfm 11h
The search for 7-year old Willow Long of Watson continues into the night, UPDATES: http://goo.gl/2NxthR pic.twitter.com/vRwF03pZNl

 979 Xfm ‏@979Xfm 13h
Police tell us that anyone volunteering with an ATV MUST have lights on it, or they will not be able to use it in the search for Willow Long

 979 Xfm ‏@979Xfm 13h
INDIVIDUAL SEARCHERS ARE ASKED TO STOP, and report instead to the Watson Fire Station for deployment. DETAILS HERE: http://goo.gl/2NxthR

 979 Xfm ‏@979Xfm 14h
Volunteers requested to search for 7-year old Willow Long. Authorities say to be prepared for coming night search: http://goo.gl/2NxthR

 979 Xfm ‏@979Xfm 18h
Another photo of missing 7-year old Willow Long of Watson, without her glasses. UPDATED STORY: http://goo.gl/UQxmRY  pic.twitter.com/LuhIk5CjeT
 
 979 Xfm ‏@979Xfm 19h
UPDATE on 7-year old girl missing from Watson. DETAILS: http://bit.ly/16cuDWB

 979 Xfm ‏@979Xfm 20h
Police are searching for a missing 7-year old girl from Watson. DETAILS: http://bit.ly/16cuDWB  pic.twitter.com/Et70Bz3BJY

[MuffyBee]

http://www.thexradio.com/news/78-local-news/7442-update-authorities-searching-for-missing-watson-girl

 

Below is an older photo of Long without her glasses. Willow's mother told police that she did not take her glasses when she left the home Sunday morning.
 

[MuffyBee]

http://www.thexradio.com/news/78-local-news/7442-update-authorities-searching-for-missing-watson-girl
UPDATE: Authorities Searching for Missing Watson Girl
Published on September 8 2013 12:54 pm   
Last Updated on September 9 2013 10:24 am   

 
10:20AM UPDATE: Authorities tell us that the initial description of the clothing that was thought to be worn by Willow is no longer valid. It was initially reported that Willow was wearing a lavender Betty Boop oversize t-shirt, but that shirt has now been located in the home. Police tell us that they now do not have a description of what Long was wearing went she went missing from her home, now more than 24 hours ago in Watson.
 

[MuffyBee]

https://www.facebook.com/979XFM

10:20AM UPDATE: Authorities tell us that the reported description of the clothing that was thought to be worn by Willow is no longer valid. DETAILS: http://goo.gl/ys19kS

[MuffyBee]

September 9, 2013 Tweets
979 Xfm ‏@979Xfm 2m
10:20AM UPDATE: Authorities say the clothing that was thought to be worn by Willow is no longer valid. DETAILS: http://goo.gl/ys19kS

[Tamikosmom]

This poor kid is the same age as my youngest. I can not imagine the fear and horror mom must be going through.

theboyzmom ... I agree.  My grandson just turned seven.  Alone and lost without his Mom or Dad ... he would be one frightened little boy.

Janet

[MuffyBee]

Hot weather forecast for today.  I hope Willow is found soon. 

http://www.wunderground.com/q/zmw:62401.1.99999
Effingham, IL

Monday
partlycloudy
Partly cloudy. High of 97F. Winds from the South at 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy. Low of 73F. Winds from the SSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday
partlycloudy
Partly cloudy. High of 97F. Winds from the SW at 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy. Low of 72F. Winds from the SSW at 5 to 10 mph.

[MuffyBee]

https://www.facebook.com/effinghamdailynews
Effingham Daily News

(no recent updates at this time at this source)

[MuffyBee]

http://www.thexradio.com/news/78-local-news/7442-update-authorities-searching-for-missing-watson-girl
UPDATE: Authorities Searching for Missing Watson Girl

Published on September 8 2013 12:54 pm   
Last Updated on September 9 2013 10:51 am   

 
10:55AM UPDATE: HELP FOR VOLUNTEERS: We've gotten word that the family at Culver's, on West Fayette Avenue in Effingham, will be taking another trailer-load of supplies to Watson AT 1PM to aid volunteers and officials. Bottled water and sports drinks, healthy snacks, AA batteries, sunscreen, insect repellent and paper towels or washrags are some items that would be beneficial.
 

[Tamikosmom]

Search continues for girl this morning

<snipped>

Effingham County Sheriff John Monnet said although volunteers are searching through the night, the primary issue searchers face is time.

"The last thing you want to see is what you see right now," he said at a press conference Sunday night. "Time is not a good thing."

The other problem is the state of the crops. This late in the season, corn and bean stalks are high, making locating Long difficult, even for the recently dispatched ATV, horse and search dog patrols. However, helicopters and airplanes equipped with infrared search equipment able to locate heat were used to better locate Long once night had fallen and the weather cooled off.

<snipped>

http://effinghamdailynews.com/local/x250210087/Police-search-for-missing-Watson-girl

[MuffyBee]

September 9, 2013 Tweets
https://twitter.com/979Xfm

979 Xfm ‏@979Xfm 4m
We have received word that The Cross in Effingham has planned an open prayer service from noon-1pm for Willow Long.

 979 Xfm ‏@979Xfm 33m
HELP FOR VOLUNTEERS: Culver's will be taking a trailer-load of supplies for volunteers at 1pm. Details here: http://goo.gl/hFuxcw

[MuffyBee]

https://www.facebook.com/missingwillow.long?fref=ts
Missing Willow Long

[MuffyBee]

http://www.thexradio.com/news/78-local-news/7442-update-authorities-searching-for-missing-watson-girl
UPDATE: Authorities Searching for Missing Watson Girl
Published on September 8 2013 12:54 pm   
Last Updated on September 9 2013 11:39 am   

 
It is now unknown as to what exactly she was wearing when she disappeared. The clothing that was reported to have been on her at the time of her disappearance has since been located in the home, and her family is unsure of what she might have been wearing when she left.
 

The next update from officials in Watson is scheduled for 1pm. (Watson is in central time zone.  It's currently 12:11 p.m. at time of my post, so I hope we will have an update in about 45 minutes.  Unless of course Willow is found before then.  I'm hoping she's found safe and soon.