Search For Missing Girl In Wall Had Big Response From Many Agencies

WALL, NJ — When a 12-year-old girl went missing from her Wall home Wednesday, it started a started a major search with multiple agencies, but it all led to the girl's safe return that evening, Wall police said.

First responders, a state helicopter, K-9 units and officers were combing the woods near Allaire State Park Wednesday night, with assistance from many local and county and state agencies - and the public, said Wall Police Chief Sean O'Halloran on Thursday.

“We are very happy the young girl was safely reunited with her family. This was an incredible display of cooperation from all public safety entities as well as the public. Thank you to everyone who assisted in the search, as well as the tremendous outpouring of support from our great community,” O’Halloran said in a statement Thursday.

The massive effort began when Wall police were contacted by the girl’s parents at approximately 6 p.m. on Wednesday evening. They said she was missing from her home off Carmerville Road.

Wall Mayor Timothy Farrell said the girl didn't have a cell phone with her.

The situation quickly turned into a large-scale search effort with multiple agencies assisting, said O'Halloran. Police posted on social media last night, asking for the public's help in the search effort.

The girl's young age, the coming nightfall and the temperature drop predicted for the night all made finding her urgent, O'Halloran said, adding she was lost in a very large area of woods.

Fortunately, the search for her was successful.

At approximately 10:15 p.m. the girl was located by police who were checking the area. She was evaluated and found to be uninjured, and was reunited with her family, police said.

Farrell praised the cooperation from the various towns and agencies to make the child's safe return possible, noting how frightening it is to be lost in the woods.

“The diligent work of all agencies and volunteers to locate the missing juvenile is a true testament to teamwork and family environment in Wall Township and Monmouth County," Farrell said.

The search was made in a large, wooded area that adjoins Allaire State Park, police said. Due to the large area, several agencies were needed to help in the search, police said.

Drones from Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights and Howell Township police departments were brought in but Farrell said they could not be used because of flight path restrictions for a local airport.

K-9 teams, including bloodhounds, were used from Wall police, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s office, New Jersey Parks police, and the New Jersey Department of Corrections deployed in various locations.

New Jersey State Police Aviation responded with a helicopter to search the area as well, O'Halloran said.

The community was supportive too, police said, and O'Halloran especially thanked the neighbors of the missing girls who assisted in searching the woods of their neighborhood. He said several neighbors came out to assist on quads and ATVs, which was a big help.

Wall Township Police are thanking the many agencies that responded so quickly, and the list shows the extent of the search:

• Wall Township Police
• Wall Township OEM
• Glendola Fire Company
• South Wall Fire Rescue
• Wall Fire Company No. 1
• Wall EMS
• Wall First Aid
• Wall Community First Aid
• Wall Township Board of Education
• Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department
• Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office
• Monmouth County OEM
• New Jersey State Police
• Howell Township Police
• Howell Township OEM
• Spring Lake Police
• Spring Lake Heights Police
• New Jersey Department of Corrections
• New Jersey State Parks Police.

"I could not be prouder as a resident and current mayor of this community," Farrell said of the neighboring communities and partner agencies.