Missing 11-year-old NC girl found; deputies say she walked out of woods behind home

CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. -- An 11-year-old girl who went missing Tuesday afternoon after getting off a school bus has been located, according to WSOC's Dave Faherty.

Deputies tell Faherty that Emily Dowdle walked out of the woods behind her home Wednesday night.

Officials said she got off the bus around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. The bus driver saw her walk toward the back of her home, which is normal, according to police.

When Emily’s mother got home about 15 minutes later, she couldn’t find her daughter. After a quick search of the area, she called police.

There is no word on the girl's condition or why she was in the woods.