Law enforcement officers and family members are searching for a 10-year-old girl who vanished from her home in Meadowhaven last Wednesday.

Patty Brent has not been seen since about 5:30 p.m. that day, according to family members. Paxton County Sheriff Roderick Haines said they are investigating the girl's disappearance.

Sheila Brent, Patty's stepmother, said Patty arrived home from Cross Elementary School by bus about 3:00 p.m. Wednesday. She said that Patty was last seen playing in her backyard.

"She can’t have ran away, because nothing of hers is missing," Sheila said.

Since her disappearance, Patty’s family and friends have searched the area for the missing fifth-grader.

Family members have posted flyers across Paxton County and have listed her with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Patty, a white female, is 4-feet and 10-inches tall and weighs about 82 pounds. She has blue eyes and blonde hair. She was last seen wearing blue jeans and a T-shirt.

Patty’s father, Truman Brent, remains hopeful that his daughter will be found. “I know all the statistics about missing children, but I don’t care. I’ll never give up hope.”