One family experienced every parent's worst nightmare, after their 4 year old girl was reported missing from her Santa Maria home. Thankfully, she is home safe today. It happened Friday just after 8:00 pm in the 1300 block of Valley Oak, after 4 year old Janell Jarneski was seen playing outside of her home, but about 10 minutes later her parents couldn't find her.
Danielle Jarneski, Janell's mother tells KCOY CBS 12 and the Information Station, "We were in and out of the house between the garage and the house and at one point somebody came out and said, 'where's Janell?'"
Police, with the help of neighbors, began searching the area. Bryan Jarneski, Janell's father says at one point they received frightening news.
He said, "somebody said they saw a body by the bridge and that just broke my heart, and the police and everybody from here just ran, when I got there I didn't even want to look because if it was my daughter I didn't even want to see that."
It turned out to be something that just looked like a body. Just after 11:00 pm Friday, about three hours after the search started, the 4 year old was found hiding behind a bush at her home, reportedly as part of a game of hide and seek, and was reported to be ok. The family wants to thank everyone who helped look for Janell.