DAYTON , Ohio (WKEF) -- A 15-year-old girl is home safe Monday after disappearing for nearly a week. Saniya Sanders was found Sunday night around 7 p.m. after leaving her Dayton home last Tuesday, August 29.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Dayton Police seek public's help to locate missing 15-year-old
Ring doorbell video showed Sanders leaving her home, not to be seen for nearly a week. She’s back home though, all thanks to the quick work of the Dock Ellis Foundation and the public.
“What happened to her?" asked Sanders' four-year-old sister. "Oh no, no, no!"
Sanders' younger sister worried as Sanders left her home, not to be seen for nearly a week.
“This could’ve ended totally different," warned Dock Ellis Foundation Outreach Coordinator, Michelle Luster.
The Dock Ellis Foundation, a national missing minority persons organization, said Sanders’ family had been looking for her since last Tuesday.
“Between that time of when she was reporting missing on August 29th, to when the family contacted us, even who she was staying with at that point, is still unbeknownst to us," said James Meriweather, a missing person specialist with the foundation.
Ring doorbell footage showed her leaving, and her four-year-old sister looking for her.
“What happened to her? Oh no, no, no!" her sister exclaimed.
The foundation said no one heard from or saw her until Saturday, the same day Dock Ellis joined in on the search.
“We were able to make missing flyers, get in contact with you guys [the media], all within a matter of less than 24 hours," said Meriweather.
Later that day, September 2, Sanders was seen on surveillance video at a Walmart off of Miller Lane.
“[An] individual [who] worked at Walmart saw the poster of her missing and immediately contacted the family," said Jasmine Ellis, foundation CEO.
The foundation said public awareness and public knowledge was key in bringing Sanders home.
“They were able to show her a picture, three individuals unrelated, [asking] ‘have you seen this person?’" Meriweather informed. "They all said yes.”
Less than 48 hours later, a family member called saying Sanders' had been dropped off at their house.
The Dock Ellis Foundation said they will now assist the family in the recovery process, including counseling services for Sanders. We’ll keep you updated on this story as we learn more.