SANTA CRUZ >> After more than 24 hours of searching for a missing 8-year-old girl in Santa Cruz, Madyson “Maddy” Middleton was found dead in a dumpster behind the Tannery Arts Center just before 8 p.m., Santa Cruz Police Chief Kevin Vogel said late Monday.

“We have arrested and taken into custody a 15-year-old male who was on the property at the time of the discovery,” Vogel said.

That teenager, who lives at the Tannery, is being detained and questioned in relation to the homicide of Maddy, Vogel said. It’s unknown if the teenager knew Maddy.

Detectives will remain on the scene throughout the night serving search warrants and sifting through evidence.

Vogel said it’s difficult to tell what the young girl’s clothing looks like, but they believe they have found Maddy.

“This is heartbreaking,” Vogel said.

Vogel said they don’t believe there are any witnesses to the crime, but there are witnesses who saw the suspect on the property Sunday.

The FBI did a door-to-door search Monday afternoon. Residents said the teen’s mother screamed in agony when her son was arrested.

Gemma Locatelli, 48, of Scotts Valley, who participated in the search, said, “It’s unbelievable.”

Cindy Potter, 41, of Felton, who remained at the scene late Monday, said, “I’m devastated. That’s why I’m still here.”

Monday night’s arrest ended what began on a hot Sunday afternoon, one that started as any other for Maddy, as she rode on her white Razer Scooter around her home at the Tannery Arts Center.

Twenty-four hours later, the massive search included at least 200 residents, more than a dozen FBI agents, Santa Cruz police, a Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team, a helicopter crew, three K-9 units, an amateur drone camera and hundreds of paper fliers and social media posts.

Maddy was waiting for a friend to finish a board game so they could play together, and rode the scooter under her friend’s window, her mother said. At 5:07 p.m. a surveillance video shows Maddy riding her scooter near a cluster of metal mailboxes at the base of a red, four-story apartment building at the Tannery.

Then she disappeared.

“I thought she was in the courtyard. I thought she was in the bathroom, checked the art bar, then I started going to every friend’s house,” said Laura Jordan, Maddy’s 42-year-old mother. Jordan said she got more and more worried.

“Maybe she got bored waiting for her play date, maybe she found a another friend. But we had no luck.”

Jordan described her daughter as an active, vocal child who would have screamed if a stranger tried to abduct her.

“She’s never gone into the woods, and she knows she’s not supposed to go down to the creek by herself,” said Jordan. “People asked if she hides, and she doesn’t do that.”

The Tannery, which is an art and work space for about 350 people at 1030 River St., backs up against a paved trail and a wooded area with trails to the San Lorenzo River. Residents said they look out for each other and watch each other’s children. Yet Jordan said she fears people who camp illegally and use drugs by the river.

“She (Madyson) knows she’s not to ride around the backs of the buildings because it’s heroin highway,” said Jordan.

Despite media attention Monday from San Francisco Bay Area TV stations to Good Morning America, no good leads in the case were generated and there were no credible sightings for the first 24 hours, Santa Cruz Deputy Police Chief Steve Clark said Monday afternoon.

Maddy loved to dance, sing and swim, her mother said.

The search

Not the scooter, Madyson’s clothing nor any other clues were found during the day, said Santa Cruz police spokeswoman Joyce Blaschke.

Throughout the day, Blaschke said, “We’re looking at anyone who could be a danger to this young child. We are not calling it a kidnapping. We are searching for a missing child.”

Santa Cruz police said that Madyson’s parents and family were cooperative with authorities during the search.

Madyson Middleton’s primary residence is at the Tannery with her mother for about six years. Madyson’s father, Michel Middleton, shares custody as well and was at the Tannery helping with the search.

Tannery resident Reema Allen, 18, watched her younger siblings and neighbors’ kids as the parents searched for Maddy.

“They’re scared to go outside,” she said. “They didn’t want to go outside.”

Residents

Tannery resident Kirby Scudder said he was one of many who searched along the river with flashlights Sunday night.

“We are a community that has not slept,” Scudder said.

Linda Cover, another Tannery resident, thanked police and other authorities for their work.

“This is our child. She lives here,” said Cover.

“The police have been really active. We’re grateful for that.”

Analicia Cube, founder of the activist and neighborhood group Take Back Santa Cruz, said hundreds of missing person fliers for Maddy were printed Monday at Maverick Mailing at 1111 Ocean St. in Santa Cruz.

“We have hundreds of people stopping in and putting up fliers,” Cube said.

Cube said she was proud of Take Back members and others trying to help on foot and on social media.

Police ask with information about Madyson Middleton’s case call the tip line at 831-420-5995, or www.santacruzpolice.com or via text to TIPSCPD plus your message to 274637 (CRIMES).

Sentinel staff writer Ryan Masters contributed to this report.