John Willoughby: reporter2@greenepublishing.com
As authorities piled into Ragans Family Campground around 1:31 p.m. on Monday, July 13, a Madison County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) investigator was asked if there was good news surrounding the earlier disappearance of five-year-old Naomi Rose Herring. His response said it all: “Great news.”
After twelve hours of searching rigorously for the five-year-old of Madison, Herring was located safe and uninjured in a cabin located at Ragans Family Campground by campground staff, according to MCSO's Major David Harper, who also noted that the same cabin had previously been searched and found to be unoccupied.
Herring was said to be in good spirits, telling investigators that she left the motel room to find her mother, got lost and wandered into the campground. Once located, and out of abundance of caution, Madison County Fire Rescue medics responded to the scene for an evaluation.
According to Major Harper, this case remains active and charges are pending upon review by the State Attorneys Office.
Herring was reported missing at 1:59 a.m. on Monday, July 13. Upon the arrival of deputies, it was learned that Herring was last seen asleep in one of the motel rooms at approximately 12:30 a.m. Another child was said to be in the care of an adult male. At 1:40 a.m., the mother returned to the room and found the motel room door to be closed, but unlocked. Upon entering the room, Naomi was not inside, hence the beginning of the investigation minutes later.
“I am extremely proud of the quick work by our deputies and our partners: Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigations – Jacksonville Field Office, Florida Department of Corrections, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, Leon County Sheriff's Office, Florida Highway Patrol, Department of Children and Families, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children,” said Major Harper. “The MCSO is very fortunate to have these established partnerships within the law enforcement community. This type of case requires precise coordination of multiple resources. I am thankful for the positive outcome.”