SHERIFF RELEASES STATEMENT ON REPORTED MISSING INDIVIDUALS

The Amber Alert issued for a missing teen and 2 small children has ended with all individuals located and unharmed. The alleged 16-year old individual was in fact found to be a 20-year old female and the mother of both children that were reported abducted. With the assistance of the Dallas, Tyler and Lufkin branches of the FBI, along with the Texas Ranges from Lufkin and Nacogdoches, Sheriff Willis Blackwell and Sheriff’s Office investigators were able to interview family members and other individuals. The investigation led to the location of the woman and her children late Wednesday afternoon. The woman and her children were unharmed and had left her mother’s home of her own free will. Sheriff Blackwell said he thanks his investigators and deputies, the FBI, and Texas Rangers for their assistance in solving this incident. He also wants to assure the citizens there was no abduction that took place.