LEXINGTON – Within hours of learning a Lexington girl living with a Ray County foster family went missing, Sheriff Scott Childers pulled an all-nighter and secured her safely the next day.

“I’m just leaving Lexington – we located her,” Childers said about 8:25 a.m. Wednesday.

After learning Maddox “Maddi” Heins, 15, went missing, Childers said his office began a search immediately.

“As soon as I found out, (I posted the information),” he said. “I stayed up all night and worked on it and we located her.”

Childers said he made calls to talk with people he believed might know Heins’s location.

“About 3:30 this morning, I get a call, a text message – she’s here at the house,” he said.

Because the girl faced no danger, Childers said he waited until 8 a.m. to retrieve her in cooperation with Lexington Police Department.

“She’s at the PD now,” he said.