Bloodhound Saves 6-Year-Old Girl Kidnapped Back In May
DeKalb County, Tennessee. 6-year-old Kinzleigh Reeder was taken away from her father after she was discovered under a bridge one wet, frigid night.
It was the evening of March 18th, and she was in danger from the rapidly rising water from a nearby creek.
Kinzleigh’s father, Nicholas Reeder, had apparently driven his car right off the road and into the creek, with Kinzleigh inside.
They then became trapped in the flooding of the creek.
“Reeder was later charged with child abuse and neglect and Kinzleigh was placed into the temporary custody of a family member by the Department of Children’s Services,” the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
“After Reeder’s release from jail, DCS gave Reeder approval to live in the same home where Kenzleigh was staying.”
However, a court order was signed on June 16th saying that Kinzleigh was now in the custody of the Department of Children Services.
When the Department of Children Services tried to pick Kinzleigh up, they couldn’t find her anywhere.
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; pictured above is Kinzleigh
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One of Kinzleigh’s family members reported to the Department of Children Services that they had last seen the little girl on May 26th.
The Department of Children Services then reached out to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office to report Kinzleigh as missing.
Now, the hunt was on to find Kinzleigh.
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office brought in drones and airplanes with thermal imaging to help find Kinzleigh, but it was a bloodhound named Fred from the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department who ended up leading authorities right to the little girl.
On the night of June 25th, Kinzeleigh was finally found, thanks to Fred!
“The bloodhound was able to locate a scent that led to an outbuilding located on the property belonging to Nicholas Reeder,” the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office continued in their statement.
“Officers did have to make forcible entry where they came in contact with Nicholas and Kinzleigh Reeder.”
“The door to the outbuilding was barricaded and the windows had been covered up with metal. There was no ventilation and air conditioning inside the small outbuilding.”
“There was barely any food or water for the child. The outbuilding had a strong ammonia smell where the two had been urinating and defecating in a five-gallon bucket.”
“34-year-old Nicholas Reeder and daughter Kinzleigh were found alive but barricaded in an outbuilding with little food and water on Reeder’s property in the Pea Ridge community Friday night. Authorities were led to the shed by a bloodhound used in the search.”
Nicholas was charged with child abuse or neglect and arrested. He also already had outstanding warrants for custodial interference and failure to appear.
He’s currently being held on bond that has been set at $175,000, while Kinzleigh was given to the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services.
As for good boy Fred, he got a lot of praise for helping to save Kinzleigh. He “got a hug from a grateful 6-year-old girl after he rescues her in DeKalb County,” the Rutherford County Sheriff’s
Office said in a tweet.
“K9 Deputy Richard Tidwell gave Fred chicken and pizza crusts for his reward. Fred just wanted to meet everyone as if to say, “Look what I did.”
Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office; pictured above is Fred, the Bloodhound who helped rescue Kinzleigh
More About:Human Interest
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