I found an article that had first hand accounts of the search.

Apparently the girl was found by a neighbor on an ATV who searched "way out and away" from where everyone else was searching -- and she was found next to an ATV trail.

Yeah, that sounds plausible.

Your gut is likely correct with this one. Kid was snatched and taken for an "ATV ride", but the family dogs gave chase. He finally gave up and realized the dogs would easily find his scent on any misdeeds, dumped the kid on the trail and decided to be "the hero".

I found an article that had first hand accounts of the search.

Apparently the girl was found by a neighbor on an ATV who searched "way out and away" from where everyone else was searching -- and she was found next to an ATV trail.

Yeah, that sounds plausible.