A 13-year-old girl who went missing and managed to make her way to the Texas border and eventually into Mexico has been found safe, authorities reported. The girl is believed to have been traveling to meet a man who relatives was trying for months to lure her.
On Sunday, the FBI issued an alert about the disappearance of 13-year-old Ashlee Hattermann from Katy, Texas. The teen was last seen on Friday. From there, she reportedly traveled by bus to Laredo, near the Mexican border.
FBI San Antonio Laredo office joined in investigation of missing 13-year-old Ashlee Hattermann, last seen in Katy, TX on Friday, 12/1. Ashlee traveled to Laredo, TX & crossed into Mexico late Friday. She is 5’7″, 130lbs, long brown hair, blue eyes. Call FBI 210-225-6741 pic.twitter.com/VruKKeNkBd
— FBI SanAntonio (@FBISanAntonio) December 3, 2017
On Sunday night, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office announced that Hatternmann was found safe in Mexico. The sheriff’s office did not specify the city nor the circumstances for the discovery. It remains unclear if any arrests were made in the case.
BREAKING: Ashlee Hattermann, 13, has been found safe in Mexico with cooperation from authorities there. Thank you @FBISanAntonio and all who helped in this search. #hounews
— HCSOTexas (@HCSOTexas) December 4, 2017
Since the girl had made her way into Mexico, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office turned to the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security while the public in Mexico was asked to contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for any reported sightings.
Surveillance of #missing 13 year-old Ashlee Hattermann from Katy, TX shows she was wearing jeans, blue shirt, jacket, brown boots and glasses on 12/1/2017. Please contact FBI 210-225-6741 or the nearest US Embassy or Consulate with any information. pic.twitter.com/cbaOAcCcCJ
— FBI SanAntonio (@FBISanAntonio) December 3, 2017
As reported by the Houston Chronicle, relatives believe that Hattermann was lured by a sexual predator secretly messaging her for months. After relatives took the girl’s phone, the teen appears to have obtained a second device and remained in communication with the unidentified man.
Ildefonso Ortiz is an award-winning journalist with Breitbart Texas. He co-founded the Cartel Chronicles project with Brandon Darby and Stephen K. Bannon. You can follow him on Twitter and on Facebook.