AMBER Alert Update: Missing Tennessee girl found dead in lake

The body of a missing autistic girl has been found in Douglas Lake, Tennessee, according to a post from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

7-year-old Serenity Kinsey was reported missing around 5 a.m. in Jefferson County.

The context

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued an AMBER alert for the missing 7-year-old girl Thursday morning.

At 10:23 a.m., AMBER alerts were issued across Tennessee to alert residents of the ongoing search operation.

What we know

Less than an hour later, Kinsley’s body was discovered in Douglas Lake.

Kinsley was autistic and non-verbal. This wasn’t the first time she was reported missing. According to the sheriff’s office, there were two other incidents where Kinsley was found quickly and nearby, according to a local news station, according to a post on the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.

Newsweek has reached out to a representative of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office for comment.

According to the CDC, drowning is the leading cause of death among children with autism spectrum disorders.

Kinsey was reported missing in Jefferson County around 5 a.m. when her family noticed her leaving their Indian Creek Road home during the night. First responders say she may have left as early as 1 a.m., as the family said they haven’t seen her since, according to a post on the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.

Her body was found by divers not far from her home, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, which issued the AMBER alert.

Newsweek has reached out to a representative of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office via social media for comment.

According to local news station WSAZ, Kinsey reportedly liked water and lived near the lake.

A ground search began immediately, using helicopters from the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, as well as drones.

According to a post on the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, officers stated, “One of the first arriving deputies dispatched his K-9 partner, who led him to the area of ​​a dock on Douglas Lake.”

The statement continued: “Sheriff’s Office and TWRA boats responded to the area and after checking the area, both noticed a suspicious signature on radar near a dock.”

Divers and an underwater device from the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency then began searching the water, according to a post shared on the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.

The post on the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office page also confirmed that the child’s body was taken to the Knox County Regional Forensic Center after it was found.

What’s next

Following this tragic event, numerous expressions of condolence were received.

In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation made the following statement.

“We have received a heartbreaking update on the search for Serenity Kinsey. A dive team recently found her body in the lake near her home. Our thoughts are with her family during this difficult time. We thank each of you who have shared your information.”

Do you have a story we should cover? Do you have questions about this story? Contact [email protected]