COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. – The Department of Children and Families is investigating why it took a Columbia County mother nearly 14 hours to report her 10-year-old daughter was missing.
Deputies say Kaitlyn Mosher left her home on Southwest Breckenridge Lane around 3 Friday morning. She was found in the woods near her home at 5:30 Saturday morning.
Before she left authorities say she took bread, peanut butter, and cereal with her.
Deputies say Kaitlyn has run away several times before.
The girl's aunt, Savannah Carver helped search for her.
"My sister was obviously having a hard time. Screaming please come help. Help me please." Carver said.
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She says she did everything she could to try and find her niece.
"It's aunt Savannah. I'll protect you. Scream to me. I'll come to you. Nothing. About five-minutes later I hear 'Aunt Savannah' Whisper I tell everyone to stop and be quiet. The next time I hear her again, I said Kaitlyn yell for me," Carver said.
The Department of Children and Families' spokesperson John Harrell told News4Jax if a parent knows their child is missing, "It is never acceptable to wait" before it's reported. He says DCF is investigating what happened.
"God was watching over us. He sent me to my niece. I knew if she showed up she would come to my voice. She did and I'm thankful for that," Carver said.
DCF says the girl was taken to an area hospital to be checked out. Two other children had been living in the home. At the time of the incident they were with relatives.
According to DCF they will stay with those relatives.