SD SERENITY DENNARD: Missing from Pennington County, SD - 3 February 2019 - Age 9

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Serenity was 9 on Feb. 3, 2019, when she ran away on a cold Sunday morning from the Black Hills Children’s Home, a residential youth treatment facility located near Rockerville in Pennington County, amid some of the most rugged and remote terrain in all of South Dakota.

Though witnesses saw her run off, and a search began almost immediately, Serenity has never been seen again and no evidence of her death has been discovered.

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She has been missing a year tomorrow--here is a recent recap of the case (above).
Oh yeah! I remember this case when it first broke now. I felt that she was hiding from searchers and ended up succumbing to the elements. That's just my theory.
 
Oh yeah! I remember this case when it first broke now. I felt that she was hiding from searchers and ended up succumbing to the elements. That's just my theory.

That is the main theory and it makes sense although no sign of her has ever been found. I do wonder why she was not on arms length watch after trying to run away the week before, the article says that was the protocol for her but for some unknown reason, they removed that. Lots of things at the home went wrong, radios on the wrong channel, failure to call 911 immediately, etc. Her case is one that really sticks with me.
 
Does anyone know what Serenity's diagnosis was? Normally I'm not huge on labels, but from what I recall, there are 2 dx that sound similar; however, with one the child is quite affectionate, whereas with the other, the child is more aloof. I talked to a psychologist about these things when the case was breaking, but I can't remember the specifics. I think the reason it came up was mainly to get a better concept of her behavior in relation to her actions (not that I'm leaning toward her approaching anyone- I'm pretty stuck on the hypothermia/ elements took her theory, sadly).
 
Does anyone know what Serenity's diagnosis was? Normally I'm not huge on labels, but from what I recall, there are 2 dx that sound similar; however, with one the child is quite affectionate, whereas with the other, the child is more aloof. I talked to a psychologist about these things when the case was breaking, but I can't remember the specifics. I think the reason it came up was mainly to get a better concept of her behavior in relation to her actions (not that I'm leaning toward her approaching anyone- I'm pretty stuck on the hypothermia/ elements took her theory, sadly).
Serenity had reactive attachment disorder (RAD) and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD)
 
It is said she could be very charming, sweet, social and manipulative, I believe that came from her adoptive father and his wife. They had to be on constant watch with her for taking off or hiding. Per them of course.

I do believe she should have been on far closer watch at the home and they should have reacted far more quickly, she had ran away the week before but there are not many details regarding that as far as I know.

Jmo and from the best of my recollection.
 

She has been missing a year tomorrow--here is a recent recap of the case (above).
A year already!!?? Wow.. it really doesn't seem that long ago.
 
These searchers never give up!!!



Over one year later, volunteers continue to search for missing South Dakota girl

A little more than one year ago, Serenity Dennard disappeared from a children's home in western South Dakota.

Authorities, volunteers and dogs continued their search for her over the weekend.

The team from "Search and Rescue Dogs of the US," from Colorado, is just one of the hundreds of dog teams and thousands of people who have searched for Serenity, who disappeared at the age of 9, from the Black Hills Children's Home on February 3, 2019.
 

A Facebook post triggering a massive response on social media to find missing South Dakota girl Serenity Dennard turned out to be a false alarm and Nevada authorities are calling it “misinformation.”

The post showed an older man with a girl at a Las Vegas Bass Pro Shop. The girl, as people online pointed out, looked similar to the now 10-year-old Dennard.

Her adopted mother, however, said she was told by the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office Serenity wasn’t found.

The person who posted the original photos on Facebook first noticed the old man and girl “making out” in a store. When he spotted the pair days later, he also reported a description of the man’s vehicle.

By Tuesday afternoon, another social media user posted a photo of a van matching the description and license plate at a condo complex in Las Vegas.

LVMPD authorities said detectives have located the pair and tell KELOLAND News that no crime was committed.

“Our preliminary investigation has determined that the juvenile is not the young girl reported missing from South Dakota as was suggested on social media,” LVMPD said in a statement. “We ask the public to disregard the false Facebook post which has delivered misinformation.”
 
It is good that awareness is raised and that Serenity' s story is still talked about, but my personal opinion is right now that she is somewhere in the surrounding wilderness out there, yet to be found. We know that bodies are often overlooked but found eventually in the original search area. I am thinking about Serenity very often.
 
That story above is flat out creepy. He should be under arrest for something if the girl is that young. What is she doing with him, who is she, a runaway, kidnapped child, family member he is treating inappropriately? In those leggings and Tshirt for a style, she doesn't seem any 14 to me. 10-12 more so, in my opinion anyhow. Even allowing for the illicit happenings in a place like Vegas, this is disturbing. Even being in a Bass Pro shop seems weird as do their matching shoes.

I too am glad Serenity is still on people's minds. I know the most likely answer is she perished in the elements but I can't help but still wonder. She was off of arm's length watch still seems odd to me and the failure of the employee to call 911 etc. immediately, particularly based on that and that she had recently ran. She could have been kidnapped or something arranged or I guess I would like to think she is still alive. But I don't.
 
That story above is flat out creepy. He should be under arrest for something if the girl is that young. What is she doing with him, who is she, a runaway, kidnapped child, family member he is treating inappropriately? In those leggings and Tshirt for a style, she doesn't seem any 14 to me. 10-12 more so, in my opinion anyhow. Even allowing for the illicit happenings in a place like Vegas, this is disturbing. Even being in a Bass Pro shop seems weird as do their matching shoes.

Law enforcement said they tracked down the pair, and found that no crime was committed. So either she was older (at least the age of consent in Vegas...16?) and just looked young, or the Facebook post was making up crazy things for attention.
 
Law enforcement said they tracked down the pair, and found that no crime was committed. So either she was older (at least the age of consent in Vegas...16?) and just looked young, or the Facebook post was making up crazy things for attention.

I guess that's a good thing. Hopefully it was more hype than anything.

She just looks like a young child to me but the way things are photoshopped and everything else these days who knows.
 
They were back out again this weekend, through Tuesday.


Seven canine teams to join search for missing persons in Pennington County

Seven teams from Colorado Forensic Canines and Tri-State Canines are planning a four-day search for two long-missing persons in Pennington County. Teams from Colorado, Montana and Wyoming will arrive on Friday, May 15, and will search Saturday through Tuesday. The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Pennington County Search and Rescue and Rockerville Volunteer Fire Department will provide some support personnel.
 

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