Grandmother, two grandchildren found after going missing during walk

A Mid-Missouri woman and her two grandchildren were found Tuesday morning, hours after they had been reported missing.

According to the Callaway County Sheriff’s Office, family members reported a 58-year-old woman and her two grandchildren, a 10-year-old male and a 12-year-old female, missing from their Millersburg residence around 1 a.m. Tuesday.

The two children are from Columbia, but were visiting their grandmother in Callaway County.

Authorities say the three left their home on foot Monday afternoon. When they didn’t return hours later, family members began to search from them then called law enforcement around 1 a.m.

The Callaway County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by the Millersburg Fire Protection District, New Bloomfield Fire Protection District, Holts Summit Fire Protection District, Boone County Fire Protection District, Callaway County EMS, Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri State Highway Patrol, initiated a large-scale search early Tuesday.

Around 9:30 a.m., a local conservation agent involved in the search found the woman and children walking along County Road 354 near State Road J.

Authorities say the family became lost and disoriented in the deep woods Monday evening and spent the night outdoors before starting to search for a road or house Tuesday morning.

Officials say no one had any injuries and there is no indication of any criminal wrongdoing.