Help Find Missing Child Nadia Bloom
By Wesh.com
Apr. 12, 2010
Winter Springs, Fla. A missing child alert was issued on Monday for an 11-year-old Winter Springs girl who disappeared three days ago.
Rescuers combed through wooded areas near Nadia Bloom’s home in Winter Springs after her sister said she was recently reading a book about wilderness exploration.
At a news conference on Monday, Winter Springs Police Department Chief Kevin Brunelle said the search so far has turned up nothing.
No clothing, backpack, shoes or any other items have been recovered.
“It keeps me hopeful, and a lot of the searchers I’ve talked with are hopeful. Even though we understand the length and we understand the conditions, we need to maintain a positive outlook on it,” Brunelle said.
Brunelle said during the news conference that until his experts tell him otherwise, he and his team are continuing the search for Nadia.
Seminole County alert helicopters patrolled through the night for any sign of the missing girl.
The helicopters are equipped with heat sensors, but Brunelle said they detected no movement except wildlife.
Crews will expand their search Monday near Black Hammock Trail and Lake Jessup in light of the new lead.
Thirty police dogs, amphibious vehicles, divers and officers on the ground are looking for the autistic girl who disappeared Friday.
Nadia is 5 feet tall and weighs 85 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes.
Police said she was last seen wearing an orange T-shirt and blue shorts, and she was carrying a black backpack with a horse on it.
“A bicycle at the end of a cul-de-sac (was found) with one home off to the right-hand side and nothing but dense woods in front of you, on its kickstand, helmet taken off and placed on the handle bars, just like somebody got off the bike to take a walk or to go into a house or anything like that. That’s the scene that we have right now,” Brunelle said.
“I’m really sad because she’s my friend and I’ve known her for a really long time, and I really hope that we find her,” friend Sophia Sarabasa said.
The Metro Church congregation prayed for Nadia and her family on Sunday. Her former Sunday school teachers shared a little more about the girl, who has become a familiar face on the news and on fliers around town.
“She’s pretty independent,” Robert Meeks said. “She gets focused on a certain thought process and she gets pretty determined.”
Crisis counselors will be at Nadia’s school, Lawton Elementary School, Monday helping students cope.
“I just pray every minute that they come out of the woods with Nadia,” parent Linda Sarabasa said.
Brunelle said during the news conference that the next phase of the search of a heavily wooded area near the police command post will continue with dog teams, authorities will compile and review all the information so far that they have obtained and authorities will continue to check sex offender and sexual predator Web sites county-wide.
It was earlier reported that Nadia may have a survival manual with her, but Brunelle said Monday morning that authorities now know the book she has is called “Meet Lanie Holland,” which is part of the American Girl series. The book explores a love of nature and science.
Anyone with information should contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Tip Line at 866-282-0672, the Winter Springs Police Department at 407-327-1000 or 911.
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Source: Wesh
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