DANBURY, Wis. (AP) -- Divers have found the body of a missing 3-year-old girl in a canal near her home in northwestern Wisconsin.
Burnett County Emergency Management Director Rhonda Reynolds says the body of Reena Williams was found at about 4:50 p.m. Wednesday about 25 yards from her home in Danbury.
Reena disappeared after apparently wandering away from her home about 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Hundreds of volunteers and law officers searched for the girl.
An autopsy is planned.
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Press Release from the Burnett Co. Sheriff's Dept.:
At approximately 4:50pm, searchers located the body of 3-year-old Reena Williams.
Our sympathies go out to the family and friends.
We would like to thank the law enforcement, fire fighters, search & rescue and the numerous volunteers who aided in this search. This was an extremely difficult search with the rugged terrain.
Investigation is continuing and we will continue with updates as needed.
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Burnett County (WQOW) - The search continues for a missing toddler in northern Wisconsin.
Three-year-old Reena Williams was reported missing last night just before 7:00 PM. Deputies believe she wandered away from her home in the Village of Danbury in Burnett County.
Reena has blonde hair and green eyes. She was last seen wearing pants and a long sleeved purple shirt. She was not wearing shoes. Since Tuesday night, crews have been searching an island near the Yellow River on foot, by boat and by helicopter. Deputies say the terrain in that area can be tricky.
"The terrain is so thick that it has to be done shoulder-to-shoulder, the brief training our volunteers have received that's what we went with, same with our law enforcement personnel and fire, to make sure it's shoulder-to-shoulder, spread the brush apart, don't leave anything unturned," says Sgt. Ron Wilhelm, Burnett County Sheriff's Office.
An update from law enforcement in the search for Reena is expected around 6:00 PM.
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Burnett Co. (Press Release) - On Tuesday, August 14, 2012, at 6:58 p.m., the Burnett County Sheriff's Office received a report of a three-year-old female missing after she apparently wandered away from her residence in the unincorporated Village of Danbury in the Town of Swiss. This area is located 15 miles north of Siren. Law enforcement and rescue personnel began searching the area immediately and were assisted by multiple K-9 search and rescue teams, as well as a Minnesota State Patrol helicopter with an infrared imaging system.
At 2:56 a.m. Wednesday morning, ground search efforts were suspended. Deputies remain on the scene and search efforts will begin again Wednesday at 8 a.m.
The missing girl is named "Reena" and she is described as a white female, three years old, green eyes with blonde hair worn in a partial ponytail. Reena was last seen wearing pants, a long-sleeved purple shirt, and she was not wearing shoes.
Danbury residents or anyone traveling through Danbury on Tuesday evening who may have seen Reena should contact the Burnett County Sheriff's Office at 715-349-2121.
At this time, it's believed there is an adequate number of volunteers available locally to assist law enforcement with the search Wednesday. Should additional volunteer assistance become necessary, contact information will be disseminated by the Burnett County Emergency Management Office through media outlets.
