Lilleona Badtke went missing Monday afternoon when she did not return home after school. Authorities were called soon after. Family members and local volunteer’s searched well into the night for the 7-year old.
The search came to a joyful end when Badtke, showed up for school the following Tuesday morning.
Tina Badtke, Lilleona’s stepmother told Fox 11, “I ran inside and just yelled for her. That’s my Lilly-bean. I mean, I just grabbed her and hugged her.”
Sheboygan Police Department released a statement expressing thanks to those who assisted in the search, “The Sheboygan Police Department would like you to know that 7 year old, Lilleona has been located and is safe and sound. At this time, we would like to express deep gratitude to the Sheboygan Fire Department, the Sheboygan Area School District and the citizens of Sheboygan. Many individuals were out looking and assisting us in our efforts in trying to locate Lilleona. Special thank you to the residents in Lilleona’s neighborhood, who answered and assisted officers in the early morning hours.”
“We’re just all happy that Lilly was found safe, everybody was extremely worried,” said family friend, Rebecca Paez.
Badtke was staying at a friend’s house and there was an apparent miscommunication. The parents of the friend were under the impressions that Badtke family knew she was staying over, though according to Fox 11, the family doesn’t speak much English. This implies the importance of child-parent communication in order to prevent further issues.
Photo Via NBC
