Family confirms they’ve made contact with missing woman Sydney Marquez and say she’s safe

Her family thought she was safe early Friday, only to find out police found her, then released her.

HOUSTON — Sydney Marquez, 24, has been found again and has been in contact with her family, her relatives confirmed to KHOU 11 on Sunday.

She was first reported missing three weeks ago. Then on Friday, a person called 911 after spotting Sydney walking in Jersey Village around 1 a.m., according to police. Responding officers recognized her from missing person flyers previously distributed by Texas EquuSearch. They contacted the Houston Police Department, the lead agency in the case, to share Sydney’s location.

RELATED: Why police say they couldn’t hold Sydney Marquez and instead released her before her parents arrived

Medical professionals checked her vitals and found no signs of trauma or need for further evaluation. After speaking with Sydney, officers determined she was not a danger to herself or others and that the legal criteria for an emergency detention order were not met.

KHOU 11 News obtained Ring Doorbell footage from the encounter, capturing part of Sydney’s interaction with police. Sydney, fully aware of her situation, told officers: “OK, you found me. Congratulations. I’m 24 years old. I am an adult. I am not missing. You found me.”

JVPD said Sydney declined assistance, including hotel accommodations and food, and requested to leave.

On Sunday, two days later, we learned Sydney was in contact with her family and is safe.

She originally went missing in southwest Houston near the 9100 block of Bellaire Boulevard on Dec. 11. Search efforts focused on the surrounding Asiatown area, with volunteers and investigators canvassing businesses for surveillance footage. Previous video showed Sydney walking normally and did not indicate distress.

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