FORT LAUDERDALE

Grateful families thank missing girls' searchers

The families of two Fort Lauderdale girls who were found after they went missing thanked the police and the public for their help.

BY DIANA MOSKOVITZ

Sandra Wright was terrified when she realized her 14-year-old daughter and the girl's young cousin were missing from her Fort Lauderdale home.

The pair were gone for nearly 26 hours, during which time a search was launched by Fort Lauderdale police, family members and neighbors. It turned out the older girl had run away, taking the 4-year-old with her. There was a happy ending, however, with both girls found and returned to their families on Sunday night.

On Monday, Wright, 50, said thank you at a news conference at the Fort Lauderdale police headquarters to everyone who helped with the search -- from family members who posted fliers to the officers who worked the case.

''I'm relieved to see both of them safe,'' Wright said.

And the family will seek help for 14-year-old Breanne Wright, her mother said, so she doesn't run away again.

''We're going to help her and make sure she gets the help she needs,'' Sandra Wright said.

Here is how the family described the events that led to a day-and-night effort by police and much of community to find the two girls:

On Saturday night, Breanne was at home in the 1600 block of Northwest Fourth Street but wanted to go to an event at a local park. Her parents said no. Breanne didn't seem upset about that, Wright said.

FAMILY PARTY

So the Wrights began preparing for a family party, Sandra Wright said. Also at the house was 4-year-old Ciara Humphrey, Breanne's cousin. Breanne was supposed to braid Ciara's hair, Wright said.

When a friend of Breanne's came by, Breanne went outside with Ciara to hang out in the friend's van, Wright said.

Then the van was gone.

And so were Breanne and Ciara.

Sandra Wright called the friend, she said, who told her that the last time she had seen Breanne and Ciara the girls were walking toward the house.

The Wrights knew something was wrong, and the police were called.

Detectives worked the case. Family helped post fliers.

And pictures of the two young girls were broadcast across South Florida.

FOUND AT HOTEL

At about 11 p.m., the girls were found at a Red Roof Inn near Commercial Boulevard and Powerline Road in Oakland Park, said Detective Kathy Collins, a police spokeswoman.

Breanne called her family, telling them where she and Ciara were after hearing from her friends about all the media coverage of her disappearance.

Police would not say how the 14-year-old girl got the hotel room.

Because the Broward Sheriff's Office polices Oakland Park, the BSO is investigating what happened in the room.

On Monday, however, the two families' focus was on the safe return of their children.

Ciara's mother, Candice Pinnock, had the option to file charges.

''I was terrified,'' she said about not knowing where her child was.

But Pinnock decided against it, Collins said.

Police are offering the services of victims' advocates to both families.