Missing 13-year-old Lancaster girl found safe, sheriff's officials say

LANCASTER, Calif. (KABC) -- A missing Lancaster girl who hadn't been seen for nearly three weeks has been found safe, sheriff's officials said Saturday.

Skylar Mannie, 13, is being reunited with her family, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

No further information was immediately released by officials.

Skylar's mother, Nefertirti Neal, released a statement thanking the public for their efforts in the search.

"San Pedro, Wichita, Los Angeles, Lancaster, Palmdale, Nevada, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Tennessee, Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, Belize, Germany and more. Everyone that took the time to share, everyone that took the time to look, to love. My daughter has been found and is in police custody! Thank you for your love and support. Thank you for your efforts, your push, your willingness to help. Thank you for your empathy, and understanding. My daughter is not dead, my daughter is not missing, my daughter is now in a position to be helped. I love you all, thank you for loving us."

Neal had spoken with Eyewitness News, saying her daughter walked off on Valentine 's Day after she got the police involved in an inappropriate relationship the 13-year-old was trying to have with an adult. She hadn't seen or heard from her since.

She said these last three weeks have been hell, made even worse when the body of a young girl matching her daughter's description turned up this week in Hacienda Heights.

"There's nothing worse than to not know where your baby is, and to have a homicide detective call you and ask you what color is her shirt and where are her scars," Neal added.

The body wasn't Skylar, officials confirmed earlier this week.

While Skylar's mother hadn't been in contact with her daughter, she said other people had been in contact with her on social media since her disappearance.