NELSON COUNTY, Va. – UPDATE 3 p.m. 6/7/2020
Authorities have located a missing 14-year-old girl with autism.
The Nelson County Sheriff’s Office posted on its Facebook page around 2:45 p.m. Sunday that Azalia Berrian had been located and crews were on their way out of the woods.
UPDATE
The search is still underway as of Saturday for a missing 14-year-old girl from Nelson County.
Authorities do not believe there was any foul play, but rather, Azalia Berrian got separated from her family.
“There is no indication this was anything other than a young child who disconnected from family members while on an outing,” said Nelson County Sheriff David Hill.
Hill is asking people in the Nelson County area to check their rural properties, including unlocked vehicles and outbuildings.
Hill said that with the heat and humidity, ”Zi is weathering the elements as best that she can.”
Authorities would also like to know if anyone in the area found anything suspicious on video surveillance tapes of their properties.
Azalia is autistic and considered to be in danger. She also has a seizure disorder and hearing loss in her right ear, according to the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office.
Several agencies, including the FBI and Virginia State Police, are working to find Azalia.
ORIGINAL STORY
Virginia State Police issued an Endangered Child Alert on behalf of the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office at 3:45 a.m. Friday morning.
The Nelson County Sheriff’s Office is looking for 14-year-old Azalia Berrian.
Authorities say she has brown eyes and black hair.
She was last seen Thursday evening on Russell Way in Afton, wearing a black shirt with orange shorts and pink tennis shoes.
Authorities say she is autistic and considered to be in danger. She also has a seizure disorder and hearing loss in her right ear, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Azalia has been missing since about 8 p.m. on Thursday.
The Sheriff’s Office released the following information about Azalia on Friday:
She has difficulty expressing her wants and needs and struggles with social interactions. Azalia uses gestures to communicate her wants and needs. If her speech is unclear, or if you do not understand her, say “I don’t understand” or “show me,” allowing her to pick from choices. She responds to greetings and farewells, comments on her environment, asks simple questions, and answers simple questions when motivation is strong. Responds to being called “Pinkie Pie” and “Zi." Enticing expressions such as: “Kiki is here, Mommy play! Let’s play Mario Kart, Tina is here to play, My Little Pony (sing), Watch TV, Let’s eat cake!”
If you see Azalia, or know where she could be, you’re asked to call the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office at 434-263-7050.