UPDATE: Stearns County Searching For Missing Child Near Rice

Originally Published 1:25 p.m. July 5th, 2022

Updated: 5:15 p.m. July 5th, 2022

(KNSI) – Investigators searching for a missing 6-year-old girl from Northfield are focusing their efforts on a park in Stearns County.

During a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, officials said they were searching Mississippi River Park near Rice for Elle Ragin. The child’s mother, 39-year-old Lisa Wade, was found dead of an apparent suicide on Saturday, leading to the search for her daughter. Police say she is a suspect in Elle’s disappearance.

Investigators say Elle was last seen alive on June 19th. Police say cell phone records show on June 21st, Wade drove her black Honda CRV from her house in Northfield to Rice. At around 3 p.m. that afternoon, Wade’s cell phone was turned off and wasn’t turned back on.

On June 23rd, a Stearns County deputy had contact with Wade on the park near her car. She was alone and told deputies she had lost her phone and car keys while hiking and needed help. Deputies arranged for a tow truck to take her car to a St. Cloud dealership for a new key.

Police say during the week of June 25th, Wade had contact with family and seemed troubled.

On Sunday, Northfield Police asked the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office to search the park and the river for Elle. Officials say Elle’s cell phone was found on land, while Wade’s cell phone and purse were found in the river.

Investigators say Mississippi River Park will remain closed until further notice. The case remains active and more information will be released when it becomes available.

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