Â
Sponsored by
Search for Mikayla - Full Coverage
Latest Post:
02/15/2013 11:20 PM
First Post:
02/14/2013 07:01 PM
(9 stories)
7 pictures
2 videos
Latest Update
EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Mikayla's father on their happy reunion
02/15/2013 11:20 PM by Katie Ferber, KSBY News
A happy ending for the family of a missing 12 year old girl.
Mikayla Andersen disappeared Thursday evening. Friday her father, Aaron Andersen, discovered her in an area where they went on h… Click to Read More and see additional updates
Latest Update
EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Mikayla's father on their happy reunion
02/15/2013 11:20 PM by Katie Ferber, KSBY News
A happy ending for the family of a missing 12 year old girl.
Mikayla Andersen disappeared Thursday evening. Friday her father, Aaron Andersen, discovered her in an area where they went on horseback rides together.
KSBY News got the exclusive interview with Mikayla's father after the family was reunited.
Andersen says, "I came across the bridge and there she was. I rolled down the window right next to her and I looked at her and said 'Hey what's going on?'."
Andersen talked to KSBY about the hardest part of the search, "Just the not knowing was the worst; just the not knowing."
It took a massive team of law enforcement agencies from four counties. They worked on foot, on horseback, with ATV's, search and rescue helicopters, and with K9 units.
Andersen says his daughter told him she, "Heard the helicopters at nighttime. She said they flew right over her, the spotlight missed her by about 20 feet."
Mikayla left Paulding Middle School and went to her grandmother's house to go horseback riding. When her horse was discovered without Mikayla, the search began.
The 12 year old told investigators she spent the night sleeping in a tree along a ridgeline in the area. Her dad tells us she's very familiar with the area, "So she remembered to climb that oak tree and just wait it out out there and kick back. I'm glad she listened to me all those times that i took her out there. 10:15
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's investigators tell us at times, up to 80 people were searching for the girl.
Just before 4 p.m. Friday, her father rode up to the SLO County Sheriff's command post in the search area with Mikayla in his car.
She was taken to a local hospital for a check-up, but is now safe at her home.
Girl, 12, spent night in tree after she was reported missing
02/15/2013 05:51 PM by Kelly Orsini, KSBY News
A local girl who was found safe after an extensive search that lasted nearly 24 hours spent the night in a tree, according to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office.
Mikayla Andersen, 12, stayed near the tree Friday and decided to walk to the search command post in the afternoon, the Sheriff's Office said.
Her father happened to be driving to the command post and saw his daughter walking on the road. He drove her to the command post where they announced she was safe.
Andersen was being checked out at a local hospital Friday night as a precaution, but was not injured.
SEARCH FOR MIKAYLA: Community volunteers pulled back for their safety
02/15/2013 01:57 PM by Kelly Orsini, KSBY News
Community volunteers who had been helping in the search for a missing Arroyo Grande girl in the rural community of Huasna have been called in because authorities don't want any of the volunteers to get lost, according to one of several KBSY crews on the scene.
Law enforcement officers and emergency crews continue to look for 12-year-old Mikayla Andersen.
Watch KSBY News for live updates on the search for Mikayla starting just after 3 p.m. KSBY will have team coverage on the search tonight at 5 and 6 p.m.
Search expands for missing girl in Huasna area
02/15/2013 12:10 PM by Kelly Orsini, KSBY News
The search has expanded for a missing 12-year-old girl in the Huasna area. The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office says 80 people are now looking for Mikayla Andersen. Deputies believe she is on foot. Authorities have issued a reverse 911 call to ranches in the area asking people to check their properties. According to the Sheriff's Office, Mikayla is considered an at-risk missing person due to the rough terrain in the area and the threat of wildlife. The community is rallying together to bring Mikayla home safely.
The Sheriff's Office says a K9 traced Mikayla's scent southeast into the Huasna Valley, so search and rescue teams are scouring a five-mile radius in that area.
Stay with ksby.com for the latest on this developing story.
Grandmother: Mikayla upset over father's recent marriage
02/15/2013 11:04 AM by Kelly Orsini, KSBY News
The grandmother of a missing Arroyo Grande girl at the center of a search in the Huasna area says Mikayla Anderson, 12, is upset because her father has recently remarried.
The search for Mikayla has been going on since Thursday night in the 8200 block of Huasna Road. The grandmother tells KSBY Mikayla grew up in that area and knows it well, but that Mikayla has never been out all night by herself. Mikayla's grandmother says the girl was last seen asking for her horse at the grandmother's house in the afternoon. Sheriff's deputies found the horse on Thursday night but Mikayla was nowhere to be found.
The grandmother adds that she believes Mikayla is hiding and says she does not know if Mikayla has food or water.
KSBY has several crews working on this story and will have complete coverage tonight at 5 and 6 p.m.
More people assisting with search of missing girl Friday morning
02/15/2013 07:34 AM by Kathrene Herndon, KSBY News
Multiple law enforcement agencies are continuing the search Friday morning for a missing 12-year-old girl in rural Arroyo Grande.
Mikayla Andersen disappeared after leaving Paulding Middle School Thursday afternoon.
Investigators said Mikayla was supposed to be riding a horse on her grandmother's property.
The Sheriff's Office says Mikayla was last seen around 4:30 p.m.
They say a citizen saw her on the horse with saddle bags that appeared to be full, but when they found the horse, the bags were empty and Mikayla was not there.
Thursday night, law enforcement was searching near the 8200 block of Huasna Road, a rural area east of the city of Arroyo Grande.
"In speaking with her father and family, he has taken her in this area since she was a young child, so she's familiar with the terrain, it isn't foreign to her," says Sergeant Keith Scott with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office. "We're going to search until we find her."
A California Highway Patrol helicopter, two K9 units, and search and rescue crews are looking for her, and the Sheriff's Office says more people are being brought in Friday morning to assist in the search.
Authorities now believe Mikayla may be wearing camouflage clothing.
If you have any information on her whereabouts, call the Sheriff's Office at 781-4550.
UPDATE: Officials believe missing girl is wearing camouflage clothing
02/14/2013 11:49 PM by Kathrene Herndon, KSBY News
Deputies with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office are still searching for a missing 12-year-old girl in rural Arroyo Grande.
Late Thursday night, the Sheriff's Office says the clothing Mikayla Anderson was last seen wearing has been found at a home.
They now believe she may be wearing camouflage clothing.
Stay with KSBY and KSBY.com for more on this developing story.
Search continues for missing girl
02/14/2013 09:32 PM by Kelly Orsini, KSBY News
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Deputies and other law enforcement agencies are still searching for a missing 12-year-old girl in rural Arroyo Grande.
Mikayla Andersen disappeared after leaving Paulding Middle School Thursday afternoon. She was supposed to be riding a horse on her grandmother's property. At 5:50 p.m., deputies found the horse, but not Mikayla. The Sheriff's Office is using K9 units and a helicopter in the search, which is taking place in the 8200 block of Huasna Road.
Mikayla is described as white, 5'3", 105 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. She was last seen wearing a reddish-blue flannel shirt with a blue sweatshirt, blue jeans, and white tennis shoes. If you have any information on her whereabouts, call the Sheriff's Office at 781-4550.
Stay with ksby.com for the latest on this developing story.
Missing 12-year old Arroyo Grande Girl
02/14/2013 07:01 PM by Connie Tran, KSBY News
Multiple law enforcement agencies on Thursday, are actively looking for 12-year old Mikayla Anderson, out of Arroyo Grande.
The San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Department said the preteen went missing after she left Paulding Middle School on Thursday afternoon.
A California Highway Patrol helicopter, two K-9 units, and search and rescue crews are looking for her. Investigators said Anderson was supposed to be riding a horse on her grandmother's property. They have found the horse, but not her.
Stay with KSBY News for updates.
PLEASE HELP US MODERATE COMMENTS
Offensive or inappropriate comments are subject to removal. To report a comment, please e-mail us at feedback@ksby.com, and include the name of the story and information on the comment.
Thank you! KSBY.com
KSBY.COM VIDEOS
-
Hasay finishes 18th at regionals, fails to advance to NCAA Championships in 10K
Views: 10 May 24, 2013 -
"Monster" reunited with owner after his cage was blown away during Oklahoma tornado
Views: 99 May 22, 2013 -
Joshua Hornsby mourns the loss of his young daughter killed in the Oklahoma tornado
Views: 30 May 22, 2013
Comments