Skip to main content
Clear icon
65º

2-year-old girl, reported missing and endangered, located safe as parents avoid DCF, Marion deputies say

Leiah Risner, 2, had last been seen with her mother, deputies said

2-year-old Leiah Risner (Marion County Sheriff's Office)

MARION COUNTY, Fla. – Marion County deputies announced Saturday that a 2-year-old girl had been located and was safe after being reported as missing and endangered Friday evening.

The sheriff’s office said it received a pickup order from the Department of Children and Families about the well-being of 2-year-old Leiah Joleen Risner. According to deputies, the girl’s parents had been avoiding contact with DCF.

Recommended Videos



[TRENDING: News 6 anchor Matt Austin fires back at trolls in defense of his daughters | Brevard County Sheriff’s Office K-9 gives birth to litter of 10 puppies | Become a News 6 Insider]

Concern for the girl’s safety arose after a drug overdose death took place inside her family’s home back in September, deputies said. They added that DCF had found the house to be in “deplorable condition.”

In a release, the sheriff’s office stated that the girl’s parents, 39-year-old Melvin Risner and 37-year-old Crystal Risner, have been avoiding contact with DCF to check in on the 2-year-old’s well-being.

Melvin Risner (left) and Crystal Risner (right) (Marion County Sheriff's Office)

Leiah Risner had last been seen with her mother, Crystal Risner, before she was reported missing, the release shows.


Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: