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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.

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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.


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