Newberry family reunited with 2-year-old daughter after hunters lend a helping hand

PROSPERITY, S.C. (WIS) - A family in Newberry County is holding their two-year-old daughter a little closer after she disappeared Sunday afternoon. Mekayla and Gary Grice were alarmed to learn she was found by a group of hunters in the woods later that evening about a mile from home.

“It was a scary thought because what if someone sees movement and doesn’t realize it’s a child,” Mekayla said. “Instead, we got a great response that [helped find] our baby.”

Mekayla and Gary said their daughter Sarah was napping around 3:30 p.m. when Gary left the house through the backdoor. When Gary returned, the family realized their daughter wasn’t where they left her.

“Gary’s mother was visiting us (and) he walked her out to the car (through) the back door,” Mekayla said. “Within four minutes of his mother pulling out, he came inside and said, ‘Where’s Sarah?’”

The parents called 911 after searching the house for ten minutes. The girl’s disappearance prompted a large search party of family, friends, and first responders. Deputies say Sarah was found around 6:30 p.m. Sunday. She suffered no injuries but was thirsty and tired.

“In our brains, if she was going to be found in the woods, it was going to be straight back,” Mekayla said. “To have gone a mile in a completely different direction is just astounding.”

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