FOUND: Crews locate missing girl with autism after daylong search

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. — A missing 13-year-old girl with autism has been found in Douglas County after a daylong search.

Trinity Lopez was found in the woods less than a mile from her home.

Officials used helicopters, drones and investigators from various law enforcement agencies to try to find her Wednesday.

She was last seen Tuesday at her home near Dorsett Shoals Road.

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Dozens of volunteers joined in the search for the girl, passing out flyers at local businesses.

Trinity was found scared but in good health around 10 p.m. Wednesday.

Neighbors said they wanted to help because they felt the Lopez family's pain.

"I wouldn't be able to lay my head down at night, so my heart goes out to him. I can't imagine being in their shoes," volunteer Brandi Miller said.

Investigators were worried that Trinity could have become overheated in the hot temperatures.

"Just her mental faculties are not what someone needs to have to take care of themselves on a day like today," Douglas County Sgt. Jesse Hambrick said.

Officers said they concentrated on a 1-mile area around Trinity’s home, then expanded to a 3-mile radius.

“In our 1-mile area, one-half of it is what you'd consider to be residential neighborhood, and then one-half is wooded open terrain with lakes and creeks and rocks and all those good things,” Hambrick said.

The Douglas County sheriff had said the search was suspended around 8:30 p.m., but then it resumed and Trinity was located.

Cox Media Group