A Kasey Alert is active for a 35-year-old Oklahoma City woman who vanished after last being seen at a laundromat in the 3300 block of NW 23rd Street, with investigators saying they believe she may have been abducted or taken against her will. Oklahoma City police have identified the missing woman as Modesta Padron, and as of now they do not have a photograph of her to release to the public.
According to KOKH, Padron is described by OKCPD as Hispanic, standing roughly 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighing about 130 pounds, with brown hair, brown eyes, and tattoos on both arms and both legs. She was last seen wearing a white shirt and blue jean shorts. Police are asking anyone with information to call 911 immediately.
Why Police Believe This Meets the Threshold for a Kasey Alert
Oklahoma's Kasey Alert system exists specifically for cases like this one. Under Oklahoma Statutes Title 63 § 1-1990.9, a critically missing adult eligible for the alert must be between 18 and 59 years old and believed to have been abducted or taken against their will — a narrow legal threshold that helps explain why investigators activated the statewide notification even without a photo of Padron in hand.
The alert system itself is relatively new, created under House Bill 1077 and taking effect on November 1, 2023, according to the Oklahoma House of Representatives. It was designed to close a gap for missing adults who don't qualify for Amber Alerts, reserved for minors, or Silver Alerts, reserved for seniors 60 and older. The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety is responsible for developing and implementing the statewide system.
The Case Behind the Alert's Name
The alert is named for Kasey Russell, a 29-year-old Cherokee Nation citizen who disappeared in 2016. As 5NEWS KFSM has reported, no public emergency alert was issued for Russell at the time, and his remains weren't discovered until six years later — the exact kind of delay lawmakers cited when they built the current system. Grassroots advocacy tied to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People epidemic was also a major driver behind the law, according to the Oklahoma Policy Institute.
The urgency behind these alerts is reinforced by unresolved missing-person cases statewide. State law also requires accountability on the front end: under Francine's Law, passed in 2019, agencies must submit missing person files into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.
What Happens if Investigators Confirm an Abduction
If Oklahoma City police ultimately confirm Padron was taken against her will, the case would fall under the state's felony kidnapping statute. Unlawfully seizing or confining a person against their will constitutes felony kidnapping under Title 21 § 741 of the Oklahoma Statutes, which carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in state prison. No arrests or suspects have been named at this stage, and the circumstances of Padron's disappearance from the laundromat remain under investigation.
The 3300 block of NW 23rd Street is the location of the laundromat where Padron was last seen. It remains unclear whether investigators have recovered surveillance footage in Padron's case or whether additional witness statements have surfaced.
Anyone with information is urged to call 911 immediately. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can also reach out to OKC Crime Stoppers, which offers cash rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest or felony charges in local investigations. Hoodline previously reported on a similar SW OKC abduction case in August 2026, but it was unclear whether the Kasey Alert system was activated in that case.
