There is a lot of distressing news lately, but at least, this is a news story that has a happy ending.
Yes, it is incredibly sad that they were missing for a year, but statistically speaking if children are not found within the first 48 hours, the odds of a safe return rapidly decline.
That is why when two children were reported missing in Missouri in March of last year there was a huge cause for concern.
However, the children were found last week in Florida.
The children were identified as Brooke Gilley, 11, and Adrian Gilley, 12, according to Fox News.
Brooke Gilley, 11, and her 12 year old brother Adrian Gilley were found at a grocery store in High Springs, Florida, nearly a year after they were reported missing (Liberty Police Department)
A felony kidnapping warrant was issued for Ms Gilley on 13 July last year.
SEE BELOW pic.twitter.com/9HGKHoenjS— Bridget Day (@BridgetAnneDay2) February 6, 2023
According to NBC, the non-custodial mother of the children, Kristi Nicole Gilley, 36, was arrested.
The High Springs Police Department in north central Florida, just outside Gainesville, announced the recovery on Facebook.
“On February 1, 2023, HSPD located two abducted Missouri children and their abductor after a routine vehicle tag check indicated the vehicle owner was a fugitive,” the post stated.
The post said Gilley and the children were found inside a Winn Dixie grocery store.
All three were disguised, the post stated without details.
Police said Kristi Gilley, a noncustodial parent of the kids, was arrested on a kidnapping warrant out of Clay County, Missouri.
— WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) February 4, 2023
According to NBC, Bryan Gilley, the children’s father, stated that his ex-wife, Kristi Gilley, limited the children’s interaction with strangers while they were on the run.
“My kids were missing. I didn’t know where they are. … That’s the biggest fear in the world,” Gilley, 38, said in an interview Monday, NBC reported. “It is an understatement to say I was terrified and freaked out.”
Adrian Gilley has Down’s syndrome, NBC reported.
Kristi Gilley was held on a kidnapping warrant issued in Clay County, Missouri, the post stated.
The children were turned over to the Department of Children and Families in Florida. According to the post, they will eventually be reunited with their custodial family.
According to the U.K. Daily Mail, the children were once suspected of being in California with Gilley.
The circumstances surrounding the children’s removal from Missouri were not disclosed by police.
Estimated number of children reported missing per year:
🇺🇸 USA 460,000
🇬🇧 UK 112,000
🇩🇪 Germany 100,000
🇮🇳 India 96,000
🇷🇺 Russia 45,000
🇨🇦 Canada 45,000
🇪🇸 Spain 20,000This is only a snapshot of the problem. In many countries, statistics on missing children are not available.
— James Melville 🚜 (@JamesMelville) October 19, 2022
The Liberty, Missouri, Police Department posted a celebratory message on Facebook.
“Both Gilley kids have been safely located out of state,” the post stated.
“Thank you to everyone who shared this post as it helped bring these children home!!!”
