In a sigh of relief for the community and her family, Hanna Smith, the 16-year-old high-functioning autistic girl who had been missing since January 14th, has been found and confirmed to be safe.
The Austin Police Department (APD) Human Trafficking unit had extended an urgent appeal to the public to aid in the search for Hanna, who they feared to be endangered after she vanished from Wichita, Kansas; APD believes Hanna may have been in the presence of an adult male, traveling in a Blue 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport with the expired Texas license plate of MKV4875—an incident that has stricken chords of concern across state lines.
On February 6th, the authorities put out a description detailing Hanna's physical characteristics—5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing approximately 140 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes and her last known attire included a blue jacket, black leggings, a back hat, and a black backpack.
While the search has come to a successful conclusion with Hanna's return, the authorities state that the investigation remains active and ongoing, the intricacies of which are held close to their vests at this time.
The Austin Police Department is keen to express gratitude to all who engaged in disseminating information and contributing to locating Hanna, reminding us all of the importance of community vigilance especially when it comes to the safety of its most vulnerable members. For those with additional information pertaining to the case, the APD Human Trafficking unit is still encouraging individuals to come forward and can be reached at 512-974-4786, or in cases of immediate information, dialing 911 remains the go-to option.
Further updates on this case can be accessed through the campaign archive provided by the Austin Police Department.
