Updated

The Santa Barbara news anchor who was reported missing by her family has returned home.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Kelly Hoover says Paula Lopez's family members reported that she returned about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. They had alerted authorities that she was missing around 10 a.m. that day.

Their report prompted a search conducted by deputies, two K-9 units, a helicopter, detectives and search and rescue personnel.

Hoover declined to comment on the reasons surrounding Lopez' disappearance, citing a private family matter.

The 48-year-old Lopez is a co-anchor of the 11 p.m. newscast at KEYT, an ABC affiliate, where she has worked since 1996.

Before that, she worked at KCAL-9 in Los Angeles for six years, according to her biography.

She is married to Superior Court Judge Frank Ochoa and has three children.