Search for Madyson Middleton: The first 24 hours

As time ticks by many in the Santa Cruz community are hoping Madyson Middleton is found soon.

“We did have a specialized K-9 unit and they looked in the surrounding area so it wasn’t just the beach area, they were able to track her scent around the Tannery area, around the woodland area and of course around the beach area. We are looking at every single possibility and every nook and cranny to find Maddy Middleton,” said Joyce Blaschke, Police Press Information Officer.

In this social media age, news of Maddy’s disappearance spread fast on Facebook thanks to the group Take Back Santa Cruz, “As soon as the information hit the scanner, we put it on social media, we have over 10 thousand members and everyone just hit the streets. Their blocks, parks, anywhere that they possibly could,” said founder Analicia Cube.

Dozens of people showed up creating their own command center in hopes of finding Maddy.

Even one of her playground playmates wanted help, “We’re trying to look for her and hopefully someone can find her,” said Portia Clevenger who is also 8-years-old.

Portia and her dad grabbed some flyers and started and their own search.

“She’s nice, she’s pretty and she’s a good person,” said Portia. “She’s about your size and weight huh,” said her father.

Madyson’s disappearance hit home for Portia’s father, “I feel terrible at first, but it also makes me feel vigilant about getting out here involved in the community.”

It’s not just law enforcement stepping up to help with search efforts, as soon as Maddy’s neighbors found out she was missing about 20 or so people coordinated their own search.

This group of neighbors, some good friends say they spent about 12 hours Sunday night searching and even set up their own command post near the apartment complex where she was last seen riding her scooter at the Tannery Arts Center.

“After we searched the property relentlessly, after sun down, we went up into the mountains here and searched some homeless camps and then we went up across the river and searched the cemetery and there was nothing. I’m hopeful, we are going to find her,” said neighbor Setorro Garcia.

The group of volunteers says police asked that they call off their search in the San Lorenzo levee area because of concerns they might throw the specialized K-9 officers off with their scent for Maddy.

Crews that include the FBI will remain on scene and searching over night Monday in to Tuesday morning.