GALVESTON, Texas — An AMBER Alert was canceled Tuesday for a 15-year-old girl who went missing while vacationing in Galveston.
The teenager was found during a traffic stop near San Angelo, Texas, which is about a six-and-a-half-hour drive from Galveston.
Galveston police didn't provide any details on who the teen was with but said detectives would be consulting with the Galveston County District Attorney's Office regarding any possible charges, and this remains an open investigation.
The teen was last seen at 4:02 a.m. Tuesday. She left the Dawn Condos located at 7000 Seawall Blvd. in a light-colored vehicle of unknown make and model. The AMBER Alert was canceled on Tuesday evening around 7:30 p.m.
Galveston police thought the teen left willingly with someone but she requires medication so there were concerns about her safety.
The girl came to Galveston from out of state to vacation with a friend's family and didn't know anyone there, according to police. Her parents headed to the island from New York when they learned she was missing.
What are the criteria for an AMBER Alert?
According to the Texas Center for the Missing, the following five criteria must be met to activate the Houston Regional Amber Alert System (HRAAS) or the Texas Statewide Amber Network.
- The missing child must be 17 years of age or younger.
- The law enforcement agency believes the missing child has been abducted. This means the child was either unwillingly taken from their environment without permission from the child’s parent or legal guardian, or taken by the child’s parent or legal guardian who commits an act of murder or attempted murder during the time of the abduction.
- The law enforcement agency believes the child is in danger of serious bodily harm or death.
- The law enforcement agency has conducted an investigation that has verified that an abduction has taken place or ruled out alternative explanations.
- Sufficient information is available to distribute to the public that could assist in locating the abducted child, suspect, or the vehicle used in the abduction.
What to do when someone goes missing
Thousands of people go missing every year across the United States, and there are organizations and law enforcement agencies that work to bring them home to loved ones.
The Texas Center for the Missing is an organization with Houston roots that works to educate loved ones and authorities on finding the lost.
From resources that deal with missing children to endangered adults, the nonprofit organization has compiled a wealth of resources to help.