Charlee Campbell was only two years old when she disappeared from her grandmother’s home one Thursday morning. Police didn’t understand how she could have vanished without a trace. Thankfully, they had a little help from someone they never expected…
Disappearing Act
When 2-year-old Charlee Campbell went missing, the town of Lebanon Junction, Kentucky, was in total upheaval. Charlee was on the autism spectrum; lost and lone, the toddler could be seriously injured if she wasn’t located as soon as possible.
She Wasn’t Alone
The toddler was staying at her grandmother’s home. Suddenly, one Thursday morning, Charlee seemed to vanish into thin air. But she wasn’t the only one who was gone…
Her Dog Was Gone
Charlee’s pet pit bull, Penny, was also missing. Charlee’s grandmother, Beth, first noticed the little girl was nowhere to be found around 10:00 a.m. on a Thursday morning.
Grand Exit
Beth immediately alerted the local police, who arrived to find the back door unlocked. The police did their best to calm Beth down, but it was no use: everyone anticipated the worst.
The Search Goes On
A special task force scoured the area for Charlee all day and night. Crews used thermal imaging cameras and helicopters to try and locate the toddler. Unfortunately, their search was fruitless.
Close to Home?
Volunteers were urged to stay out of the woods so that cameras could pick up Charlee if she wandered through the area. How far could she have gone?
Dangerous World
Bullitt County Sheriff Donnie Tinnell was deeply concerned for the little girl’s welfare. There were wild animals in the hills and there was no way she could survive the elements. Search and rescues crews combed the woods hour after hour…
Protector
Charlee and Penny had always been close. Penny cared for the toddler fiercely; she went out of her way to make sure Charlee was safe and happy. The two shared a strong bond. Beth took little comfort in the knowledge that her granddaughter might be near at least one familiar face. Meanwhile, the FBI arrived in town…
Looking for Answers
The FBI interviewed Charlee’s entire family, hoping to get some answers. How could a two-year-old escape her grandmother’s house in the middle of the morning while two adults were home? What kind of supervision was she under? Where were her parents?
Where Could She Have Gone?
Beth wanted to believe that Penny would never let any harm befall Charlee. Sheriff Tinnell was convinced the girl couldn’t have gone terribly far. They had warned the public that she was blonde, three feet tall, and 37 pounds. She was also wearing a Frozen pajama shirt. Still, there was no sign of her in the woods behind Beth’s house…
Something Strange
It was 32 hours into the search when the Southeast Bullitt Fire Chief, Erik Butler, saw something unusual. He was sitting on the front steps of Charlee’s grandparents’ house when, in the distance, he saw the shape of a dog approaching.
Penny’s Return
Butler soon realized it was Penny. She was heading for the house. However, there was no sign of Charlee with her…
Close Behind
Butler figured there was a chance that if Penny had come home, Charlee could be nearby. He quickly sprang into action, dialing the number of Sheriff Tinnell.
Miracle
Tinnell was walking nearby with a few other officials when he received the call from Butler: Penny was home safe, which meant they should keep an eye out for Charlie. That’s when Tinnell saw a familiar Frozen t-shirt coming toward them…
Worse for Wear
Charlee was wandering down the road. She had come from a hill across from the house where she went missing. Charlee was worse for wear, covered in tics, mud, and scratches. She was also severely dehydrated.
She Was Alive
Other than minor injuries, Charlee had emerged from the woods unscathed. “I can’t believe she survived it,” said Tinnell. “There’s coyotes in them hills. There’s copperheads and rattlesnakes and ticks… all the elements. And somehow she came out in pretty good shape.
Where Was She?
Tinnell and Butler were confused; they had looked on the exact hill from which Charlee had come five or six times. “That big dog, because [she’s] huge, and that child looks like it would be hard to miss,” Tinnell continued, perplexed.
Tired Girl
Tinnell surmised that what could have happened was Charlee became extremely exhausted and slept “behind a stump or behind a tree or who knows what, a big rock,” and Penny had laid down beside her.
Needing Answers
“I’m not for sure going to say what I think happened. I don’t know. But we can get some answers with some continued investigation and that’s what we’re going to do,” said Tinnell.
So Many Questions
There were so many unanswered questions regarding Charlee’s disappearance and Tinnell was determined to get to the bottom of it.
Gathering Information
Soon, Child Protective Services arrived at the Campbell residence to conduct interviews. The county was in the process of obtaining warrants for phones and personal tablets to see if any more information could be found…
Not Likely
“If she was in the woods the whole time, surely it’s a miracle,” said Tinnell, who had grown increasingly suspicious. “Was she? I don’t know.” Meanwhile, Charlee was sent to the hospital.
Estranged Mother
Charlee’s grandparents were visiting her every day. So was her mother, Natalie Quick. Quick didn’t have custody of her daughter, but she was still in tears after hearing the news: “I don’t have to worry about my kid being dead,” she wept.
Rumors Begin
“Penny came home, and not two minutes later, here comes Charlee down the hill. It gives me cold chills,” she said. “I’m not going to let her go this time.” Unfortunately, the rumor mill was already brewing...
Legal Action
Beth had been charged almost immediately after Charlee’s return with endangering the welfare of a minor. Tinnell got the feeling something about this all wasn’t quite right…
The Real Reason
“Us as a family did not do anything to hurt that baby,” Quick said. “She is perfectly fine.” However, Beth soon admitted to the real reason Charlee had been left unsupervised that Thursday morning…
The Unfortunate Truth
Police interrogated Beth along with the FBI, who admitted to doing meth in the hours before Charlee disappeared. She was supposed to be watching the child. But on the same day Beth was charged, the charges were immediately dropped…
Not Sustainable
The charges were dropped due to a procedural issue. Beth’s defense attorney argued that the Sheriff’s Department didn’t go through the proper method to charge her with a crime.
No Authority
Because the police hadn’t witnessed her doing any drugs, they did not have the legal authority to charge her with a crime. However, two months later, police charged Beth once again.
Arrested
Beth had admitted to doing meth with a family member, who was later revealed to be none other than Natalie Quick’s husband, Charles Quick. Charles was arrested on outstanding warrants from other states and taken into custody.
Home Safe
Because Charlee is nonverbal, she was unable to communicate what had happened to her in the woods. Tinnell has other, darker theories, which are being tested along with evidence from the Campbell’s home. At the end of the day, Charlee’s family is just happy she returned home safe.