CARROLLTON, Va. — Audra Williams, who lives in Vellines Lane in Carrollton, watched her phone closely from Monday into Tuesday as people were posting about a missing 10-year-old girl in the area by the name of Katelynn Clark.
Investigators with the Isle of Wight Sheriff's Office said Katelynn was seen on her family's security camera footage walking away from her home with a jacket on, carrying a purse. Her disappearance sparked a nearly 36-hour search effort by several different agencies around her neighborhood.
Williams said she kept looking at the Facebook post by the Sheriff's Office urging people to keep their eyes open. For some reason, Katelynn's face just kept sticking to her.
"She was heavy on my mind," Williams said.
She said Tuesday, her Beagle named Bo kept barking and staring at the empty trailer she and her husband have next to their home. Williams said she thought it was just an animal near the trailer, since they have a lot of deer in the wooded area.
She said that's when she brought Bo into the home and they settled in for the night.
Williams said she was sitting on her couch watching TV when she saw a young girl by her front screen door with her hand raised, ready to knock. Williams jumped up and stared at the girl for a few seconds to really understand if this was, indeed, the girl she's seen all over social media.
"I often thought, how do people recognize someone who is missing? Because I'm bad with names and faces. But it was like, the minute she was at the door, I was like oh my gosh, I know that face," Williams giggled and smiled. "And I just kept thinking there's no way she made it this far."
Williams opened the door and that's when she said Katelynn asked if she could do some work around the home or help feed her chickens in return for money to buy food.
Williams said she offered Katelynn a ham sandwich and a soda and brought her inside. While they were sitting in her kitchen, she asked Katelynn a few questions, trying not to scare her away.
"I was like, honey, do you live in Jones Creek? And she said, yes ma'am and she started to get teary-eyed and I said, 'honey, did you run away from home?' And she started crying a little bit and said, 'yes, I did' and that she had gotten into a fight with her mom and that's why she left," Williams explained.
When Williams asked Katelynn what she was doing this entire time, Katelynn said she walked through the wooded area behind her home and came upon the empty trailer. Everything clicked for Williams when she realized why her dog, Bo, was barking and focusing on their trailer Tuesday.
"I was like, 'was there a blanket in there?' and she said, 'no, but you had hand warmers in there for hunting and stuff,'" Williams said. "Yeah, she just totally amazed me."
Williams said she told Katelynn many people were looking for her and Katelynn said she was scared of getting in trouble for leaving her home. Williams said she assured Katelynn the community would be more relieved and happy to see her, and called 911.
When law enforcement arrived at the door, Williams said she saw a massive sigh of relief, mirroring exactly how she felt.
However, this moment of Katelynn knocking on Williams' door brought more than just a sigh of relief. It brought a feeling of purpose back to Williams' life.
"My mom passed away December 1, a year and a half ago, and my grief has just been off the chain. Everything going on in the world weighs heavy on me and this just brought back a restoration of faith really," said Williams. "l'm just glad she came here. I think I needed it as much as she did."
13News Now spoke with Katelynn's stepdad, Matthew, Wednesday afternoon. He said he couldn't speak on camera and couldn't comment on why Katelynn left their home since law enforcement is investigating the situation.
Matthew said when Katelynn left, she brought her small first-aid kit with her in her purse, showing how she was prepared to take care of herself. He said their entire family is relieved and overjoyed to see Katelynn back home, calling this the best outcome possible of this situation.
Matthew added Katelynn is happy, healthy and safe now and he is grateful for the work of Williams and the first responders who worked tirelessly to find her.
Meanwhile, a captain with the Isle of Wight Sheriff's Office said Katelynn is currently under the supervision of social services while his team looks into what motivated her to leave her home.