Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office and the Dallas Field Office of the FBI proudly announced that missing girl Willow Sirmans has been found safe and in good health. The update came as part of the press release by The Van Zandt Sheriff’s Office on Thursday May 14, 2020, 21:57pm.
Yesterday, The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office had issued an Amber Alert for missing 14-year-old girl Willow Sirmans.
Willow’s Family has been informed and thankful she is safe.
More than fifteen agencies have come together in a joint investigation to locate Willow.
Sheriff Dale Corbett extended his thanks and appreciation to each and every agency, and each agent, officer, analysts, and deputy who has participated in Willow being able to come home safely.
Willow was reported missing on Tuesday, May 12 at approximately 2:00pm. At the time, officers with the Grand Saline Police Department and deputies with the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office attempted to locate Willow and followed up on leads to her possible location.
Local resources were unable to find Willow and the decision was made on Wednesday, May 13 by the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office to request state and federal assistance. An AMBER Alert was issued that same day.
The FBI Dallas Field Office responded to the request and deployed resources immediately from the Tyler Resident Agency and the main field office in Dallas.
A felony warrant for kidnapping was issued today for Austen Walker. Through the course of the investigation, they determined that Austen Walker and Willow Sirmans were in the company of Courtney Odum in a 2012 white Toyota Camry. This information was provided in the AMBER Alert and allowed them to locate Ms. Odum.
After Ms. Odum was questioned by FBI Special Agents, it was confirmed that Austen Walker and Willow Sirmans were staying at a residence in the Louisville area. This led to the operation that recovered Willow.
Both Austen Walker and Courtney Odum are both in custody.
‘The Grand Saline Police Department, Canton Police Department, Texas Attorney General – OAG Officers, Texas Department of Public Safety CID Units from Garland and Tyler, as well as Texas Highway Patrol, Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, Van Zandt County District Attorney’s Office and District Attorney Tonda Curry, The United States Marshal’s Service and Us Marshal’s Service Fugitive Task Force, FBI Louisville Field Office, FBI Saint Louis Field Office, FBI Dallas Field Office and Tyler Resident Agency, and Matthew DeSarno, Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Field Office, The Kentucky State Police, and Elizabethtown, Kentucky Police Department, as well the Sikeston, Mo. Police Department, each of which have worked tirelessly alongside of the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office to effect a positive outcome for Willow Sirmans. Thank you.’ quoted Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office in the press release.
Here is the full press release: