Missing Essex County Girl, 8, Found Safe After Leaving Playground: Police

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Police say that an eight-year-old child who went missing from a local playground in Essex County on Sunday morning has been found and is safe.

Newark Police Capt. Derek Glenn confirmed that Nevaeh Blaine, 8, of Newark, was safe shortly after 11 p.m. on Sunday.

Officers initially responded to the area of Maybaum and Tremont avenues around 9:45 a.m. after receiving a call about a missing child.

"Nevaeh was last seen walking to a nearby grocery store after leaving a neighborhood playground," Newark police stated.

RLS Media posted the below video of a group of about 15 community leaders and residents who gathered for prayer at the Bradley Court Housing Complex following the initial missing person alert.

Authorities began an active search for Nevaeh and issued a public alert about her disappearance. She was located at Newark Penn Station, police said.

Blaine’s aunt told CBS New York that a family friend was babysitting the eight-year-old when she went missing.

No additional information about the incident was immediately available.