Missing 2-year-old found alive after wandering away from Michigan campsite, police say

OSCODA COUNTY, Mich. — Authorities found a 2-year-old girl alive Tuesday, more than 24 hours after family members told investigators that she vanished as they were preparing to leave a campsite in Michigan.

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Officials with the Oscada County Sheriff's Office said deputies were searching Monday for Gabriella Vitale after family members lost track of the girl.

Update 12:50 p.m. EDT July 16: Authorities told WXYZ that Gabriella was found after she walked up to a home about a quarter- or a half-mile away from the area where she was last seen Monday morning.

"She is missing her bottoms and her shoes, but seems relatively unfazed for a 2-year-old who has been in the woods that long," Michigan State Police Lt. Travis House told WJRT.

House said a person who was home knew about Gabriella's disappearance and called authorities after finding her.

"She's been without water probably for more than 24 hours," House told told WJRT. "They want to get her in and get her checked out ... but the first responders who have been with her say that she's in good shape."

Update 11:45 a.m. EDT July 16: Police said Gabriella was found alive. No additional details were immediately available.

Original report: Authorities in Michigan are searching for a 2-year-old girl who reportedly vanished from an Oscoda County campsite Monday morning.

According to the Oscoda County Sheriff's Office, family members of Gabriella Vitale, 2, of the Monroe area, "lost track" of the girl as they were getting ready to leave the campsite near state Highway 33 and Reber Road. They reported her missing about 8:15 a.m., authorities said.

By late Monday, search crews, including deputies, state troopers, police dogs, a police helicopter and Michigan Department of Natural Resources officers, had not found the child, authorities said.

Gabriella was wearing a pink zip-up coat, a gray shirt, pink bottoms and tennis shoes when she disappeared, the Sheriff's Office said. Authorities later found the coat "several hundred yards southeast of where she went missing," Michigan State Police said.

Gabriella "may have autism," WWTV reported.

If you have any information about Gabriella's whereabouts, call 989-826-3214.

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