The Eyrie

OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, FL — The Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in finding a 17-year-old girl who has been missing since Wednesday afternoon. Deputies say Lillian F. Bennett was last heard from around 1:30 p.m., when she spoke on the phone with her mother.

Investigators have released a description in hopes of getting tips that could help locate her quickly. Authorities say Bennett is a white female who is 5-foot-7, weighs about 120 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes.

Deputies did not immediately provide any other details about where she may have gone or how she disappeared. For now, the case centers on asking residents to look closely at the description and report any possible sightings.

Deputies release description and last known clothing

The sheriff’s office said Bennett was last seen wearing a purple jacket, blue jeans and black HEYDUDE shoes. That clothing description may help people identify her if she is seen in public or on security video.

Public missing-person alerts often rely on small details like clothing, height and hair color because those are among the quickest ways for witnesses to connect a person they may have noticed with an active search. In this case, deputies are treating the clothing information as a key part of the effort.

Officials have not said whether Bennett was on foot, with anyone else or traveling in a vehicle when she was last seen. They have also not said whether there is any concern that foul play is involved.

How the family and deputies say the timeline unfolded

The sheriff’s office said the timeline begins with Bennett’s last phone call with her mother around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. After that, she was reported missing and deputies began seeking help from the public.

That sequence gives investigators a starting point, but it leaves open many questions about where she may have been after the call. Searches in missing-person cases often depend on narrowing down the person’s last verified location and contact.

No further timeline details were released, including where Bennett was supposed to be later that day. Deputies have not said whether any additional family members, friends or witnesses have provided information that could help trace her movements.

Why deputies are asking residents to stay alert

The sheriff’s office is urging anyone with information to come forward, even if the tip seems small. A brief sighting, a photo, or a possible vehicle description can help investigators check leads and rule out dead ends.

Residents in Okeechobee County and surrounding areas may also be able to help by reviewing home surveillance footage, dashcam video or anything unusual from Wednesday afternoon and evening. Those kinds of details can be useful when a missing teen is last seen after normal daytime contact with family.

Authorities are asking the public to treat the search seriously and to report any possible match rather than assume someone else already called in the information. In cases like this, quick reporting can matter.

What Bennett looks like and how to reach authorities

Deputies described Bennett as 5-foot-7, 120 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. Anyone who thinks they may have seen her should compare those features carefully with the person they saw.

The sheriff’s office said tips should be directed to OCSO dispatch at 863-763-3117. Officials did not provide any separate case number or additional public contact route in the notice.

For now, the search remains focused on gathering information from people who may have seen Bennett after she was last in contact with her mother. The sheriff’s office has not announced any confirmed sightings.

Missing-person cases often depend on early public tips

While deputies have released only limited information, missing-person cases involving teenagers can move quickly in the first hours and days. That is one reason law enforcement agencies commonly ask the public to help early, before memories fade and evidence is overlooked.

In this case, the sheriff’s office has kept its message straightforward: Bennett was last heard from Wednesday afternoon, and authorities want anyone with relevant information to speak up. The appeal underscores how much investigators may still need to learn about where she went after that final call.

Anyone who lives, works or travels through the area is being asked to remain watchful. Even an ordinary observation could help deputies piece together what happened next.