Law enforcement says a  6-year-old DeKalb County girl missing for a month was found in an outbuilding with no ventilation. Officers say Kinzleigh Reeder barely any food or water and a bucket to use as a bathroom.

Kinzleigh was previously removed from the custody of her father, Nicholas Reeder, after the two were found camped out under a bridge in rising creek water. Reeder was arrested for child abuse and neglect. Kinzleigh was placed in the temporary custody of a family member.

The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) later allowed Reeder to live with his daughter.

That is when authorities say the situation took a bad turn.

DCS filed a missing child report earlier this month after the agency was granted custody of Kinzleigh. A family member said she had not been seen since May 26, 2021.

A bloodhound from the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office located a scent Friday evening that led to an outbuilding on Reeder’s property. The door to the structure was barricaded and windows were covered up with metal. That is where the child was found.

Reeder was arrested and booked into the DeKalb County Jail for child abuse or neglect.

Kinzleigh returned into the custody of the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services.