Missing Child Denise Hernandez, 2, Allegedly Abducted On National Amber Alert Awareness Day [Update]

Updated: Denise Hernandez was found in a field about a half a mile from her Immokalee, FL, home this morning. She has been looked over by medical staff and appears to be fine.

Denise was first reported missing Sunday night when her father went in her room to turn off the television. He reported that the 2-year-old’s window was open and that the girl was missing. She was found at about 9:15 am this morning, according to local news.

According to search crews, the girl appears to have made her own way out of her bedroom window. Friends and family are obviously relieved that the preschooler was found safely.

“They’re very excited, crying and stuff that they found her,” said Bruno Campos, a family friend.
A statewide Amber Alert has been issued in Florida for a child missing from Collier County, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced early this morning.

Denise Hernandez, 2, was reportedly put to bed by her caregiver around 9 pm Sunday night. Around 11:30 pm, she was discovered missing, and her bedroom windows were open. Her guardians state that the windows to the girl’s room were closed when they put her to bed earlier in the evening.

Hernandez was last seen wearing a white nightgown with multicolored stripes. She is described by authorities as a Hispanic female, 3 feet tall, and 40 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes and was last seen in the area of the 400 block of Wells Street in Immokalee, Florida.

The FBI and the Florida Department of Law enforcement is treating this case as an abduction and ask that any person with information regarding Hernandez contact the Collier Sheriff’s Office at (239) 252-9300, or call 911.

Denise was allegedly abducted on National Amber Alert Awareness Day. The Department of Justice declared the day to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the abduction of a young girl names Amber. The girl’s abduction started the Amber Alert movement in which authorities ask the general public to assist in locating missing children.

Across the country from where young Denise went missing, the Washington State Patrol requested the help of the public to help locate the nation’s missing children. The Washington State Patrol said citizens participation helps when searching for a child and called for involvement, asking for patrons to sign up for missing child alerts to be sent to phone or email.

The WSP notes that, in cases like Denise’s, time matter when trying to find a child, adding that any way they can quickly get the word out about an Amber Alert is helpful.

“It very much helps. Like I say, the more eyes we have out there working, the quicker we can get these children back to the parents that are missing them,” said Trooper Sid Grant, Washington State Patrol.

Amber Alerts involve children who are under the age of 18 and are believed to be in danger, and the alert must happen within four hours of the event. A description of the child must be given to official, and the case is then investigated by law enforcement.

For more information, visit . Authorities ask that anyone with information on a missing child call 911 immediately.