The Florida Department of Law Enforcement confirmed Friday morning that Chelsea Phillips was found safe at a friends house.
The missing child alert was issued Friday morning for the 9-year-old girl.
She was last seen out in Marion County being dropped off by her school bus near Highway 301 around 2 p.m. Thursday near her home on NE 165th Street in Citra, Florid, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities say she left the stop in an unknown direction of travel.
She was last seen wearing a multi-colored, floral top with tan shorts and brown sandals. She's described to be white with brown hair, blue eyes, 4'09'' and 55 pounds.
