U.S. Marshals say missing teen Bayleigh Reese was found safe in San Antonio. Investigators say her disappearance may have been linked to her former stepfather.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Update:
The U.S. Marshals Service says a fugitive task force investigation led to the safe recovery of missing 16-year-old Bayleigh Reese in San Antonio.
According to Deputy U.S. Marshal Jose Nuñez, the agency’s Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in San Antonio recovered the Corpus Christi teen, who had been reported missing Jan. 16.
Nunez said the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Gulf Coast Violent Offender and Fugitive Task Force on Feb. 2. During the investigation, task force members working with partner agencies — including the FBI and U.S. ICE Homeland Security Investigations — determined Reese’s disappearance may have been linked to her former stepfather.
On Feb. 3, the Gulf Coast task force requested assistance from the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in San Antonio.
Nuñez said on Monday, task force members located Reese with an associate of the former stepfather. Authorities say a traffic stop was conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety and U.S. Marshals, leading to the teen’s safe recovery.
Reese was transported to a hospital in San Antonio for medical clearance and is awaiting her return to Corpus Christi, according to the Marshals Service.
Original Story:
The search for missing 16-year-old Bayleigh Reese came to an end Tuesday morning after U.S. Marshals and Texas DPS troopers located her during a traffic stop in San Antonio.
Reese’s grandmother Debbie Wishard confirmed to 3NEWS around 11:30 a.m. that Bayleigh had been found and was taken to a San Antonio hospital by U.S. Marshals, who are staying with her while she is checked out.
Wishard said that she and her husband David were headed to San Antonio to be with their granddaughter.
“Just after 11:20 a.m. this morning, a DPS trooper assisting the United States Marshals Service conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 10 in Bexar County, where the passenger was identified as a missing juvenile from Nueces County,” said DPS PIO Rob Mallory. “The trooper and a deputy U.S. Marshal transported the juvenile to University Hospital in San Antonio to await her grandparents.”
Officials with the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office said a joint task force came together to tackle the case, uniting agents, officers, and troopers from NCSO, U.S. Marshals, the FBI, DPS, and the Corpus Christi Police Department.
Bayleigh had been missing for more than three weeks after last being seen leaving her family’s home in Calallen.
Just two days earlier, about three dozen volunteers led by South Texas Search and Rescue gathered near River Hills Baptist Church to search areas connected to Reese’s last known locations.
“We love you Bailey. Grandma needs to hug you. I need to love you, I need to fix your hair, baby please come home,” Wishard said during Saturday’s search.
Officials with NCSO told 3NEWS that automated license plate recognition led to the traffic stop during which Bayleigh was identified.
Her family said their focus is now on her health and recovery.
This is a developing story. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.