DANDRIDGE, TN – Authorities have located the body of a 7-year-old girl who had been reported missing near a lake located in Jefferson County. Serenity Kinsey was found dead in Douglas Lake on Thursday morning following an extensive search operation that began at 1:00 a.m.
Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Coffey reported that deputies on the scene had initially suspected the child had made her way to the water, a theory that was backed up by a K-9 officer that tracked her to the lakeside.
Local search and rescue teams, bolstered by volunteers from across multiple counties, quickly rallied to the cause, setting aside their Independence Day plans to assist in the search operation. Sheriff Coffey expressed gratitude for their efforts.
Committed to community welfare, these volunteers dropped their Fourth of July plans to assist in a tragic situation. Unfortunately, the search for the young girl, who had previously been found near the lake on several prior occasions, ended in heartbreak this time.
The family of Serenity Kinsey has not made any public statements regarding the loss of their little girl. The Sheriff’s Office extended condolences and prayers to Serenity’s family during this challenging period in a recent social media post.