FOUND: The missing woman was located around 5:20 p.m. Thursday by Montgomery County law enforcement. She is safe and will be returned to her family.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing elderly woman, 77-year-old Ana Maria Nehls, who was last seen around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, in the Colony Ridge community south of Plum Grove.
Nehls, who suffers from dementia and is also deaf, was walking near her home on County Road 5210 when she disappeared. She is a Hispanic woman and was last seen wearing a white sweatshirt, gray pants, and black shoes. She also uses a walking cane, which may make it difficult for her to travel far on foot.
Authorities are treating the search as urgent, particularly due to the freezing temperatures expected Thursday night and into Friday morning.
Capt. David Meyers, spokesperson for the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, stressed the importance of finding Nehls as soon as possible to ensure her safety.
“As we prepare for another night of freezing weather, the need to locate Ms. Nehls grows even more critical,” Meyers said. “Our deputies, along with multiple other agencies, are actively searching the area, and we’re asking the public to remain vigilant.”
Search and rescue teams have been deployed throughout the Colony Ridge area, with law enforcement officers, volunteers, and emergency responders working together to cover as much ground as possible. Residents in the community are encouraged to check their properties, including garages, sheds, and other outbuildings where Nehls might have sought shelter from the cold.
Anyone who may have seen Nehls or has any information on her whereabouts is urged to call the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office immediately at 936-336-4500.