The missing 11-year-old Catawba County girl has been found safe. She walked out of the woods behind her home Wednesday night, officials said.
A spokesperson for the FBI said shortly before 10 p.m. that Emily Dowdle was "located within the last half hour in a wooded area near her home."
"She is safe, will be checked out by medics," the spokesperson said. "Our thanks go out to hundreds of law enforcement, fire fighters, and other first responders."
Additional details will be released most likely Thursday morning, the spokesperson added.