Community celebrates Carlie Trent’s rescue with welcome-home party
HAWKINS COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL)- What was supposed to be the gathering of a large-scale search party will now be a celebration for 9-year-old Carlie Trent’s safe return.
The city of Rogersville was once painted purple, with signs asking to pray for Carlie, but now the signs read “Welcome Home,” and “Thank you for your prayers.”
“It was just such a relief that she was found, and that’s she’s OK,”said celebration organizer, Sarah Fobber.
Volunteers spent over a week searching for 9-year old Carlie and her suspected kidnapper, Gary Simpson. Private citizens found both of them 8 days after they went missing on Gravely Valley Road in Hawkins County.
“I knew that Rogersville was a good community,” said search volunteer, Kalyn Schaffling. “I knew they had a big heart and that the people in our town could do it.”
The celebration is a way to thank the community for helping to bring Carlie Trent home safe.
“It just shows what a small community can do for somebody, when something so big happens,” said Schaffling.