Multiple law enforcement agencies and other first responders are searching for a 7-year-old girl who went missing in the Paradise/Cottondale area Wednesday night.
MISSING — Authorities are searching for Athena Strand, 7, after the child was reported missing from her home Wednesday night. She was last seen wearing a gray/black long sleeve shirt, blue jeans with flowers on the front pockets and brown boots.
Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin said around 6:40 p.m. Wednesday, a parent reported her stepdaughter, Athena Strand, missing.
The stepmother said she went to the girl’s room, but she was not there.
After about an hour looking for the child, she contacted the sheriff’s office.
Akin said there was an argument at the house before Athena went missing.
“Our initial thought is she walked away and got lost in the dark,” Akin said.
The child was last seen in the vicinity of the 200 block of County Road 3573 in Paradise.
Wise County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Public Safety, the local Texas Ranger, Fort Worth Police Department, Bridgeport Police Department, local fire departments, Wise County EMS, Search Rescue One (K-9 assisted) and several others searched the surrounding area.
Helicopters, ATVs, horses, thermal imaging cameras and drones were used in the search. A large crowd of volunteers joined the effort in the area to look for the girl Thursday.
“We have a lot of citizens that came and volunteered, walking in lines through the brush, almost shoulder to shoulder,” Akin said. “This place is 6 acres, but we’re looking at properties around it.”
The child was not found, but the search is continuing, Akin said.
“We’re leaving no stone unturned,” Akin said.
Athena Strand
An Amber Alert was issued for the child 2 p.m Thursday. The alert described Athena as endangered and said she was last seen wearing a gray/black long sleeve shirt, blue jeans with flowers on the front pockets and brown boots.
Athena has blue eyes, dirty blonde hair and a pink scar on her left jaw line. She is 62 pounds and 4 feet tall.
She is a student at Paradise ISD, the district confirmed.
If you have any information regarding the child’s whereabouts, call the WCSO, 940-627-5971.
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