13-year-old at center of Amber Alert in Angleton found on Wednesday, police say

Daniela Hurtado Image
Thursday, January 4, 2024
What to do when someone you know goes missing
What to do when someone you know goes missing

BRAZORIA COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- The search for a missing 13-year-old girl has come to an end hours after being at the center of an Amber Alert.

Everyone received the local Amber Alert Wednesday evening regarding 13-year-old Karley Smart. The Texas Department of Public Safety said Karley was last seen getting into a blue truck at about 5 p.m. in the 200 block of Austin Street.

However, the Angleton Police Department said there is no evidence that she entered a blue truck, and they suspect her disappearance is a runaway incident.

Angleton police said Karley was seen on surveillance video walking near her home with a backpack at about 2 p.m.

The police department said they reached out to DPS out of an abundance of caution.

"Texas DPS Amber Alert criteria states that a child 13 years of age or younger who was taken (willingly or unwillingly) without permission from the care and custody of a parent or legal guardian by someone unrelated and more than three years older constitutes for an Amber Alert," Angleton police said in a press release.

Hours after the alert was issued, the Angleton Police Department posted on social media that Karley had been located but didn't provide further details.

The Brazoria County Sheriff's Office posted on social media about Karley's disappearance, saying she is a student at Angleton Junior High.

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