In an urgent appeal for community assistance, the Salt Lake City Police Department has released an AMBER Alert for 18-month-old Josephina, who has reportedly been taken by her mother, Holly Angelina Smith, in defiance of a court-ordered custody surrender. The situation began to unfold this afternoon when the Utah Division of Child and Family Services alerted the authorities that Smith was required to relinquish her child.
As reported by the Salt Lake City Police Department, the pair was last seen in the vicinity of 1801 South 900 West in Salt Lake City, with Holly Angelina Smith suspected to be traveling on foot, and there are unconfirmed sightings of them near 1300 South by the Jordan River Trail. Detectives suspect that Smith's family members may be providing assistance, which could be aiding in their continued evasion from the law.
Concerns that triggered the AMBER Alert and custody action include issues related to environmental and physical neglect, coupled with the mother's suspected substance use and abuse history. These were compounded by past instances where children were removed from her custody and previous failings to adhere to safety plans outlined by DCFS.
The search is being led by the department's Violent Criminal Apprehension Team alongside detectives and patrol officers. Descriptions of Holly Angelina Smith indicate she is approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighs 100 pounds, and has blue eyes with short, described as unkempt, brown hair. The police statement emphasizes the situation's urgency and implores, "We are urging anyone with information about Holly Angelina Smith or Josephina to call 9-1-1 immediately," as obtained by the Salt Lake City Police Department.
