Authorities revealed on Friday that the 12-year-old Houston girl, whose Amber Alert had caused concerns for her family and law enforcement, was discovered safe and sound in the company of a 27-year-old man.
According to ABC13, the Houston Police Department has confirmed that E’minie Hughes has been found in Columbus, Texas. Columbus is situated an hour and a half west of Houston along I-10.
The girl was located on Friday afternoon, and the police department in the town of 3,700 people provided further details on the incident.
Columbus police reported that they attempted to apprehend Sirterryon Preston, a Houston man, at 12:40 p.m. on charges related to the possession of a missing child. Despite his attempts to evade custody, Preston was eventually captured and taken into custody.
The man has been arrested and taken to the Colorado County Detention Facility on charges of evading. Additional charges are expected as the investigation progresses.
The authorities reported that the child underwent an evaluation at Texas Children’s Hospital.
The Columbus and Houston police received assistance from various law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Colorado County Sheriff’s Office, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Eyewitness News accompanied the individual throughout the entire journey.
A week has passed since her last sighting.
Dr. Elizabeth Gilmore, a criminal justice professor at UH-Downtown, emphasizes that predators can easily access children if they have access to the internet. She advises parents to have ongoing conversations with their children about safety, reassuring them that they won’t get in trouble for seeking help or reporting any concerning online interactions.
Houston police have chosen not to reveal the location of the young girl during the eight-day period or the details of what occurred during that time.
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