The disappearance of 13-year-old Wynter Wagoner from her foster home in Rockcastle County, Kentucky, has entered its third week, prompting a sustained community effort to locate the girl last seen on October 14, 2025.

Wynter, described by family as a bright and artistic young girl with a passion for drawing and animals, was reported missing the morning after she was last spotted near her home on Wolfe Creek Road in the Orlando area, a rural stretch of the county known for its rolling hills and sparse population. The Rockcastle County Sheriff’s Office launched an immediate response, coordinating with the Kentucky State Police and local volunteers for ground searches covering over 5,000 acres in the initial days. K-9 teams tracked potential scents along nearby trails, while drones scanned wooded areas and creeks, but no leads have emerged as of November 3, 2025. Nearby surveillance cameras, reviewed extensively, show no unusual activity entering or leaving the vicinity that evening, leaving investigators to explore whether Wynter ventured out independently or if other factors were at play.

Wynter’s father, speaking to local reporters outside the sheriff’s office on October 20, expressed deep concern, noting that his daughter had shared feelings of adjustment challenges in her foster placement. “She’s a strong kid, but she misses her family,” he said, adding that Wynter might have had access to an additional phone, a detail the investigation team is verifying through carrier records and device pings. The last communication from Wynter was a heartfelt text to her cousin around 7 p.m. on October 14, reading simply “I love you,” sent from her known device. Phone records indicate no further activity after that time, and the signal did not register movement beyond the immediate area. Foster care officials have cooperated fully, providing placement history and routine check-ins, emphasizing that Wynter had no reported conflicts or plans to leave.

The search operation has evolved from acute sweeps to a broader canvass, with tips lines active 24/7 at the sheriff’s non-emergency number (606-355-8133) and a dedicated Facebook page, “Find Wynter Wagoner,” which has amassed over 10,000 followers sharing flyers and personal appeals. Volunteers from neighboring counties, including Mount Vernon and Berea, have organized weekend hikes and distribution drives, posting Wynter’s photo—showing her with shoulder-length brown hair, blue eyes, and a height of about 5 feet—at gas stations, stores, and community boards. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) issued a national poster on October 16, classifying the case as endangered missing, which has broadened alerts to truck stops and rest areas along Interstate 75. As of late October, over 200 tips have been fielded, though most pertain to unrelated sightings, sifted by a joint task force.

Rockcastle County, with a population under 17,000, is a tight-knit Appalachian community where such events resonate deeply. Local pastor Rev. Elena Hayes of the Orlando United Methodist Church held a prayer vigil on October 28, attended by 150 residents, where Wynter’s aunt lit a candle symbolizing hope. “This is our girl—we search not just for answers, but for her safe return,” Hayes told the crowd. Schools in the district, including Rockcastle County Middle School where Wynter was enrolled, have incorporated awareness assemblies, distributing resources from the FBI’s child ID program. The foster system in Kentucky, overseen by the Department for Community Based Services, has faced scrutiny in similar cases, but officials stress ongoing reviews to support placements without speculation.

Investigators continue to piece together Wynter’s routine. Classmates recall her as outgoing yet introspective, often sketching wildlife during lunch breaks. A school counselor noted positive engagement in art therapy sessions, suggesting no immediate red flags. The evening of October 14 was unremarkable—clear skies, mild temperatures around 60 degrees—ruling out weather as a factor. Digital forensics experts are examining Wynter’s social media, limited to supervised accounts, for any outreach patterns. Her father mentioned occasional video calls expressing a desire for family visits, but no concrete plans. The possibility of a secondary phone, perhaps a hand-me-down, could explain untraced communications, though warrants for additional data are pending.

Community response has been robust, with fundraisers on GoFundMe raising $15,000 for search expenses and family support by November 1. Local businesses, like the Wolfe Creek General Store, offer free coffee to volunteers, while the Rockcastle County Fairgrounds hosted a supply drive for cold-weather gear as temperatures dip. National organizations like the Black & Missing Foundation have amplified the case, noting disparities in coverage for rural youth. Media outlets from Lexington’s WLEX-TV to national podcasts like “Crime Junkie” have featured updates, balancing sensitivity with calls for information.

The emotional toll weighs heavy. Wynter’s cousin, recipient of that final text, shared in a KET interview, “It was our usual goodnight—she always ended with love. Now it echoes louder.” Foster parents, respecting privacy protocols, issued a statement through the sheriff’s office affirming their commitment to Wynter’s well-being and cooperation with authorities. Child welfare advocates, including those from the Kentucky Youth Advocates, urge systemic reflections on transition support for foster youth, without implicating specifics.

As the search persists, law enforcement maintains an open-minded approach. Sheriff Damon Caldwell addressed a press conference on October 31, stating, “We’re leaving no path unexplored—Wynter could be anywhere, and every detail matters.” Advanced tools, like cell tower data analysis and environmental modeling for trail simulations, are in play. The FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit has consulted on profiling voluntary departures, common among teens in transitional homes.

Wynter’s description remains unchanged: 5 feet tall, 110 pounds, last seen in a gray hoodie, blue jeans, and white sneakers. Anyone with information is urged to contact authorities immediately. In the meantime, the community clings to routines laced with hope—school drives ending in group prayers, neighbors scanning horizons during evening walks.

This case underscores the vulnerabilities of youth in flux, where a single evening can alter trajectories. Rockcastle County’s resolve mirrors broader American stories of unity in uncertainty. Wynter’s father closed his latest statement with resolve: “She’s out there, and we’re bringing her home.” Until then, the watch continues, a collective heartbeat pulsing for one girl’s return.