3 missing children safe after search

CONROE — Three children were found safe Friday after spending the night lost in Sam Houston National Forest in Montgomery, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

Two 6-year-olds and one 7year-old, who were reported missing just before 8 p.m. near the 20800 block of Julie Lane, in the Flamingo Lake subdivision, were found by first responders about a mile from where they entered the woods, spokesman Lt. Scott Spencer said.

“They were just simply lost is what it appears,” Spencer said, adding that the children walked out on their own. “We just couldn’t ask for a better outcome than this.”

Following their recovery, the children were evaluated by medical personnel before reuniting with family, Spencer added.

They were thought to be walking on a short, commonly used trail that connects homes in the subdivision when they entered the woods for an unknown reason, according to Spencer.

Several law enforcement agencies were in the forest searching for the children, using helicopters, drones and tracking dogs to assist in the efforts. No additional resources or people were needed to assist in the search early Friday morning, the sheriff ’s office said.

Spencer said hundreds of people were involved in the search.

“We’re going to be here until we find them,” Spencer had said earlier. “Please try not to come to the scene, we know you want to help and we’re so grateful for your serving heart but we will have additional heavy equipment and first responders coming down here, and the roads are extremely narrow ... so we don’t want to do anything that could hinder any efforts.”

A 3-year-old was found safe in 2017 after spending 24 hours lost in Sam Houston State Park.