Knoxville police are searching for Kaylecia Woodard, 34, who was last seen leaving her home in the 2900 block of Lay Avenue at about 1:30 p.m. Friday. She was wearing a multicolored shirt, white pants and a red backpack, and investigators say she has multiple health conditions that could affect her ability to return home safely.
According to WVLT, Woodard was pictured in an unidentified red sedan that may be traveling toward Kentucky, indicating a possible direction of travel. The sighting marks the most specific lead authorities have released so far in the hours since she went missing.
Health Conditions Raise Urgency
Police have stressed that Woodard's health conditions could complicate her ability to make it home safely, a detail that has added urgency to the search efforts. No further specifics about those conditions have been released by investigators.
TBI has listed Woodard as a Tennessee Silver Alert. The program covers more than older adults: Tennessee’s disability agency says it can also be used to help locate adults with disabilities who may be in danger or unable to return safely without assistance. The alert designation provides context for why authorities have emphasized Woodard’s health concerns, but officials have not publicly identified her specific conditions. Tennessee’s description of Silver Alerts includes both older adults and adults with disabilities.
The combination of her disappearance, the unidentified vehicle, and her health concerns has kept the case classified as an active, ongoing search. Knoxville police have not indicated whether any additional details about Woodard's location or condition have emerged since the search began.
The search also falls within a statewide system: TBI’s Missing Persons Clearinghouse, established in 1993, coordinates resources to help identify and locate missing people. TBI says there is no waiting period to report someone missing, and its alert page directs tips to the bureau as well as local authorities. The state’s missing-persons information explains the clearinghouse’s role and the no-waiting-period rule; Woodard’s active alert listing identifies the case as a Silver Alert.
How To Help
Police are asking anyone with information about Woodard's whereabouts to contact 911 immediately. Woodard's identifying details include her height, weight, hair and eye color, in addition to her clothing and red backpack; a possible red sedan sighting points toward Kentucky.
