A girl reported missing from South Carolina last month and spotted at an Iowa doctor’s office earlier this week, has been found safely in northeast Iowa.
The Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office says 2-year-old Dakota Ray was found with her biological parents, who do not have custody. A statewide alert was put out to the public in the news media Thursday with a description of the parents and their gold or beige van.
When a tip call came in reporting a sighting of William Ray, Jessica Ray, and Dakota Ray at the Walmart in Decorah and a second report that the Rays were seen driving the van just north of Decorah, WHO TV reports Winneshiek County Sheriff's Deputies pulled the van over, and found all three family members inside.
KCRG TV reports South Carolina authorities say the parents are habitual methamphetamine users, and have been missing, with the girl since April 15.
The parents are in custody in the Winneshiek County Jail.