BEDFORD COUNTY, Tenn. - An endangered child alert has been issued for the two children who had been presumed dead in a Bedford County fire over the weekend.
The children, 9-year-old Chloie Leverette and 7-year-old Gage Daniel, were declared missing by Sheriff Randall Boyce early Wednesday morning after two days of searching the charred home. According to State Bomb and Arson investigators, the children were not victims of the fire and their whereabouts were unknown.
TBI spokeswoman Kristin Helm says the agency issued the alert "under an abundance of caution," even though the children could have been inside the house.
"Something that fire investigators are continuing to look into. But to err on the side of caution, as far as law enforcement is concerned, we feel like we can leave no stone unturned," said spokesperson Kristin Helm.
The siblings were last seen around 6:30 p.m. Sunday night near their home. Investigators said the fire started three hours later.
NewsChannel 5 learned Chloie showed up for school Friday, but Gage did not.
TBI officials also said they've questioned the children's mother, and they believe she doesn't have the children or know where they are.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol flew over the area Wednesday with a helicopter using infrared cameras to search for the bodies. Investigators used cadaver dogs to search the home Tuesday.
The bodies of the children's grandparents, 72-year-old Leon McClaran and 70-year-old Molly McClaran, were found in the rubble on Monday.
Investigators said the home burned Sunday night at super high temperatures, up to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Chloie and Gage, please contact the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
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Chloie Leverette
Gage Daniel
