Citizens helped locate two 12-year-old girls who ran away after dismissal about 3 p.m. Thursday at Rock Springs Elementary School in Smyrna.

Tabitha Beauregard and Alexandra Sandlin were found in a drainage area on Montgomery Way, about 2.5 miles from the school.

Citizens notified the Sheriff’s Office of their location about 8:40 p.m. 

School Resource Officer Ben Baldwin at Rock Springs, the school staff, Smyrna Police and sheriff’s deputies and detectives searched for the students. 

K9s and deputies searched for the students and a drone searched from the air. 

We rely on our citizens to help find runaway and missing children. 

The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office thanks all the citizens who called in the tips and the media for spreading the word so the students could be located safely. 

EARLIER

Have you seen these girls?

Tabitha Beauchamp and Alexandra Sandlin, both 12, apparently ran away Thursday from Rock Springs Middle School.

The girls were last seen about 3 p.m.

Tabitha’s hair is fully dyed pink/purple. She is wearing a cream, long-sleeved shirt, blue jean shorts and black sandals with heels.

Alexandra wears glasses. She is wearing a black and white horizontal striped shirt, dark jeans and gray boots.

Rutherford County Sheriff’s deputies, detectives and School Resource Officers and Smyrna Police are searching for the girls.

If you have information about them or their location, immediately call the Sheriff’s Office at 615-898-7770.