Kayla Bailey was located alive in a forested area following a two-day search effort in Jacksonville. Her mother recounted an investigator approaching her with the words, “We found your baby.”
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The mother of Kayla Bailey, a missing Jacksonville woman, expressed immense relief at her daughter’s safe return, marking a joyous conclusion to the tense two-day search that captivated their community.
Known for her work as a newborn photographer and a mother of five, Bailey’s disappearance was reported early Monday, initiating a search by neighbors, police K-9 units, and drones over the forested region near her home.
She was found alive Wednesday morning, lying on the ground less than a mile away from where she disappeared.
It was inside her daughter’s home when Lisa Lucas heard the words she’d been praying for from an investigator.
“She just took my hands and said, ‘We found your baby, and she’s alive, and you will hold your baby and see her,’” Lucas told First Coast News.
Lucas recounted the intensity of the search, describing law enforcement diving into a nearby lake and neighbors searching by foot.
“There’s not enough words for this community, for this neighborhood,” Lucas said. “They were out there even before the official search started.”
Bailey spent two days without food, water, or shelter before teams spotted her moving her feet among thick brush.
“She knew somebody needed to find her, I think, and that’s why she was able to wiggle those toes,” Lucas said.
Rainfall during those days may have helped Bailey survive, her mother believes.
“I know she was able to hold her mouth open to get water,” Lucas added. “I know God soaked her to cool her body.”
After being found, Bailey was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Although Lucas has yet to speak personally with her daughter, she confirms that Kayla is secure and being cared for.
The police reported that Bailey’s husband, who initially reported her missing, was detained on Wednesday due to charges of violating a protection order and probation. Authorities stressed that his arrest was not linked to Bailey’s disappearance.
Officials intend to interview Bailey to ascertain why she left. In the meantime, her mother remains hopeful for explanations, asserting her unwavering belief that her daughter would return home.
“Sometimes these stories aren’t a happy ending,” Lucas said. “As her mother, I never let her go. I said I’m not gonna lose another daughter.”
