The mobile Amber Alert glitch was heard by millions of people in dozens of Texas counties. Some received as many as three startling messages.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children hopes the public won't tune out future alerts because of the technical glitch.
Sandra Steger jumped out of her seat.
"It's annoying If it's happening one right after another," she said.
Tuesday night, millions of cell phone users in about 40 southeast Texas counties heard it, too...two times too many.
"I don't know that it's ever happened that we got more than one alert on any one Amber Alert," said Beth Alberts with the Regional Houston Amber Alert Plan.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children told Eyewitness News a technical glitch was to blame and said only one alert should have gone out.
The alert was requested by the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office after investigators say a 13-year-old girl from Alvin was in danger and kidnapped by 38-year-old Jose Ponce.
The alerts can be turned off on your mobile phone. That's what the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children hopes did not happen.
"I really hope that people don't turn away just because we had this one issue," said Alberts. "Kind of give us a chance to fix it, and stick with us because the Amber Alert really does save kids' lives."
That 13-year-old girl was found safe. Investigators say Ponce dropped her off at her aunt's home. He has been arrested and charged with aggravated kidnapping and enticing a child with the intent to commit a felony.
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