Alton Davis and Janice walker, parents of Annaleise Davis who went missing on Tuesday, still look worried even after hearing of their daughter's recovery at the Half-Way Tree Police Station yesterday. - photos by Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

"Thank God!" That was the almost uniform response from family and friends yesterday morning as they celebrated news that 10-year-old Annaleise Davis had been found.

It had been the worst 48 hours in the life of her parents, Alton Davis and Janice Walker, as they were worried about their daughter who had been missing since 5 o'clock Tuesday evening when she was not at her regular pick-up spot at the gate of the Duhaney Park Primary School in St Andrew.

With almost an entire community searching for the 10-year-old and prayer meetings taking place across the community, the parents received the good news shortly after 9 yesterday morning.

"Maybe I can eat something now because from she went missing, I haven't eaten anything," Annaleise's father told The Gleaner as he waited to hug his daughter for the first time in two days.

"When I get the call seh them find her, I was overwhelmed. If there is any physical harm, we will patch it up, but at least she is alive," added Davis while standing outside the Cross Roads Police Station in St Andrew, where his daughter had been turned over to the police.

A worried father

With a seemingly forgotten cigarette burning in his hand, Davies was the picture of a worried father as he paced the area in front of the police station.

His common-law wife was obviously short of energy with her face stained by tears and showing the obvious signs of a lack of sleep and fresh worry lines.

While looking casually elegant in her long denim skirt and blouse, it was obvious that Walker's wardrobe had been hastily put together as she rushed to the police station.

"I want to see her and to hold her and, until I hold her and hug her for myself to see that she is all right, I won't feel good," Walker said as she waited for the police to take her to her daughter.

"I have never been in a situation like this and I don't wish it on anybody else, honestly. Worse when it is your only child and it is somebody who you have a special bond with. It is very, very hard," the visibly shaken mother added.

Family, friends elated

Natanya Minto holds a picture of Annaleise Davis.

The parents' spirits remained low until they finally saw their daughter at the offices of the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA) in New Kingston.

However, their reservations were not shared by family members and friends who were just elated to learn that Annaleise had been found safe.

"Mi overjoyed, mi over-whelmed and mi can't tell you how mi feel seh wi little angel safe. Mi pray this morning and mi no stop pray and God answer mi prayers. Thank you Jesus," Irene Ferguson, the child's aunt, shouted.

"God is good all the time and me a go cook one pot of curry goat and some chicken back for Annaleise tonight. From Annaleise gone we no cook and we no eat no food," Natanya Minto added as she led a small but loud group of neighbours in a celebration of news that the child had been found.

arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com