A Citrus County 3-year-old who went missing on several acres of property in Floral City Saturday has been found, according to deputies.

  • Lainey Brammlett, 3, missing for several hours
  • Volunteer with K9 unit found Lainey in heavy brush
  • Lainey only sustained cuts and scrapes

Lainey Brammlett, 3, was reportedly playing on an electronic four-wheeler with her family on property at 9891 E New Hope Court in Floral City when she disappeared. The child's mother told deputies she heard the four-wheeler stop, and when she went to find Lainey, the girl was no longer there.

Lainey's disappearance prompted a search involving deputies, firefighters, and several community volunteers. Among those volunteers was volunteer Linda Boles and her bloodhound, Winnie.

Boles and Winnie, along with Citrus County Sheriff's Office K9 Deputy Williams, eventually found Lainey after she'd been missing for several hours. The 3-year-old was located in heavy brush about a mile and a half away from her home.

"She was rolled up into a little ball the size of a basketball and we couldn't tell it was a human when Winnie put her nose right on her," said Boles. "She was in brush waist high."

Lainey reportedly had some cuts and scrapes and was cold when she was found, but sustained no other injuries.

Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast praised everyone in the community for coming together in order to bring Lainey home to her mom.

"We are so grateful for everyone's support today," said Prendergast. "I'm so proud of our team for coming together like we did and to be able to see that Lainey is safe and sound in her mother's arms."

"I would be remiss if I didn't thank all of our law enforcement, firefighters, communications officers, Nature Coast EMS, FDLE, FWC, and the many Citrus County residents who showed up on horseback and on ATVs to help us search for Lainey," he continued. "This fortunate outcome was made possible by all of us coming together to find this precious little girl and bring her home safely."

For more information about the search, click on the Facebook post below.