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MORELAND – After 12 days of tireless searching, Lincoln County teenager Summer Denney was located in safe condition Sunday.

Summer’s mother, Andria Mattingly, posted a public update on her Facebook page – which was used to spread the word about her missing daughter – alerting everyone that Summer was found.

“Summer has been found safe!,” Mattingly wrote. “Thank you Jesus!”

Summer was originally reported missing by the family on Nov. 5.

Mattingly said Monday that much of the credit belongs to the Hunter Hounds Search and Recovery team, who found Summer’s location Sunday in Moreland.

“We are so relieved,” she said. “It’s been a nightmare. They (Hunter Hounds) are an amazing, caring, loving group of people.”

A lot of help came from local Lincoln County resident Sean Reardon, Mattingly added.

“He was a huge help,” she said.

Reardon helped gather and follow leads early on in the case and said it was the way the family, friends and community came together that helped bring Summer home.

“As soon as her mom called me and some other people and said she was missing, we all started trying hard to find her,” Reardon said. “Summer definitely has a large group of family and friends that love her with everything in their heart and soul and I hope she now realizes that.”
The group never gave up hope, Reardon said.

“None of this would have been possible without God watching over us every step of the way and leading us where we needed to be,” he said.

Not only did he help find Summer, Reardon said he found lifelong friends.

“I feel like I have gained some wonderful lifelong friends with Summer and her family,” he said. “It all made it worth it when Summer ran over to me and gave me a hug at her house Monday night, and thanked me for helping.”

Charlie Denney, Summer’s father, said he is grateful for everyone who helped bring his daughter home.

“Their (Hunter Hounds Search and Recovery) dogs are the real heroes,” Denney said. “We are just glad she is home safe.”

Lincoln County Sheriff Curt Folger said no criminal charges have been filed in the case at this time, but the investigation is ongoing.