June 22, 2021
By: Dwayne Page
The whereabouts of six year old Kinzleigh Ray Reeder who has been missing since May 26 are still unknown but authorities believe she may be with her father, 34 year old Nicholas Ray Reeder. He too cannot be located.
The child was removed from the custody of Reeder after they were found camped out under a bridge in rising creek water on the cold rainy night of March 18 at Dry Creek and Pea Ridge Road.
Authorities learned that Reeder had driven his Nissan Rogue off the roadway into the creek bed where it got stuck during heavy rain and creek flooding. Kinzleigh was with Reeder at the time.
Reeder was later charged with child abuse and neglect and Kinzleigh was placed into the temporary custody of a family member by the Department of Children’s Services. After Reeder’s release from jail, DCS gave Reeder approval to live in the same home where Kenzleigh was staying.
On Monday, June 21 the Department of Children Services contacted the Sheriff’s Department seeking to file a missing child report. Under a court order signed June 16, the Department of Children Services was granted custody of Kinzleigh but DCS has not been able to locate her. According to DCS the child was last seen by a family member on May 26.
“After being contacted by DCS Monday the Sheriff’s Department filed a missing person report and entered information about Kinzleigh into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC),” Sheriff Patrick Ray told WJLE. “We also contacted the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation about issuing an Amber Alert or an Endangered Child Alert but were advised by the TBI that this case did not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert or an Endangered Child Alert. The TBI did assist in doing a Missing Child Alert by providing a missing poster. The District Attorney General’s Office was also notified,” said Sheriff Ray.
Kinzleigh is a six year old white female, 4 feet tall. She weighs 55 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. There is no known clothing description or direction of travel at this time.
Reeder is 6 feet 2 inches and weighs 159 pounds. He has brown hair and hazel eyes. His clothing description is unknown. Reeder owns a 2004 white Ford F-150 crew cab with the driver’s side of the bed painted red. The Tennessee tag number is DPK-287. The vehicle was last seen at Reeder’s address today (Tuesday) unoccupied. No one was at Reeder’s address.
If you have seen Kinzleigh or Reeder, please contact the DeKalb County Central Dispatch office at 615-215-3000 or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.