VAN ZANDT COUNTY (KYTX) -- Hundreds of people worked for hours to find 3-year-old Zoey Smith in Van Zandt County. She disappeared around 1 this afternoon.
After the search was called off around 6:30 it came down to a man and his son, who the sheriff is calling heroes.
Jason Smith and his son heroes found little Zoey in the woods tonight and brought her back safely.
Jason said he heard helicopters close to his home and learned Zoey was missing.
He said that's when he and his son got on their 4-wheeler and started searching the woods.
They located Zoey by her cries for help and carried her to safety around 7 p.m.
He agrees with the sheriff that it was a miracle, because he usually doesn't go out into the woods at night.
"I think it was something that lead me to her," Jason said. "I don't know what it was, I've got a feeling."
Smith said Zoey was talkative and alert, just wet and cold when they brought her back to the house.
The Sheriff said Zoey was taken to the Children's Advocacy Center for a forensic interview.
He said they're happy the girl and her dog, Brownie, walked away safely.
The family's dog stayed by her side the whole time.
Sheriff Burnett said his department will continue to investigate how Zoey wandered away earlier today.
UPDATE: 3-year-old Zoey Smith was found a few miles from her home. Smith and her dog have been reunited with family and are at home safe.
She was found at a house along FM 2909. Police are still investigating how the girl got out of her home.
Her mother is being taken to her.
UPDATE: The search has been called off for the missing 3-year-old girl in Canton.
No word on the reason why.
CBS will bring you more details as soon as information becomes available.
A frantic search is underway south of Canton around County Road 4207 at this hour as law enforcement and firefighters search for a missing toddler.
(TYLER MORNING TELEGRAPH) - Van Zandt County Sheriff Pat Burnett said his agency is one of the departments working the case at the time.
Department of Public Safety helicopter is searching the area and ground crews consisting of deputies, constables, a posse, and firefighters are conducting a door to door search for the child.
"We're networking to locate the child as quickly as possible," he said.
Officials said the 3-year-old apparently wandered away from home.
Burnett said the child is dark haired, green-eyed and was last seen wearing purple shirt with "I didn't do it" on the collar area. She was also wearing blue jeans, black tennis shoes and a pink and blue jacket.
Burnett said the child's name is Zoey Smith.
"We understand the parents waited about 20 minutes before they called us. The important thing is just locating her and making sure she is safe," he said.
Anyone with information about the child is asked to call the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office at 903-567-4133
