LUXORA, Ark. – A missing girl from Mississippi County, Arkansas was found in Pierce County, Washington, said 2nd Judicial District Prosecutor Scott Ellington during a press conference Friday night.
Speaking at the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Office in Luxora, Sheriff Dale Cook and Ellington both confirmed 18-year-old Ashton Talley was found safe.
The 18-year-old went missing last Saturday, reported WREG.
Watch the press conference on Facebook at this link.
Press release:
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY, ARKANSAS – Scott Ellington, District Prosecuting Attorney for the Second Judicial District of Arkansas, and Mississippi County Sheriff Dale Cook announce the safe return of missing 18-year-old Ashton Talley, late Friday evening to Mississippi County, Arkansas. Prosecutor Ellington and Sheriff Cook said that Talley was recovered in Pierce County, Washington after Sheriff Cook’s investigators developed information leading to her location. Talley, a special needs person, disappeared from her Mississippi County home during the early morning hours of Saturday, February 17, 2018. Washington state authorities arrested two individuals, a male and a female, Thursday in connection to Talley’s disappearance.
Agents with the Washington and Texas divisions of the Federal Bureau of Investigation arranged and provided airfare for Ashton’s return from Pierce County, Washington to Memphis International Airport. Ashton was met in Memphis by Mississippi County sheriff’s investigators, who accompanied her home to Mississippi County.
The prosecutor and sheriff praised the national multi-agency investigation resulting in the location and safe return of Talley to Mississippi County, Arkansas. Nearly 20 different law enforcement agencies partnered together in the investigation, the two said. Prosecutor Ellington stated, “I appreciate the hard work and dedication from all of the assisting law enforcement agencies who helped in the recovery and safe return of Ashton. I specifically appreciate Pierce County Sheriff’s Department for recovering her Thursday without incident, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which provided transportation and victim assistance from the state of Washington to Memphis International Airport. Most importantly, I appreciate the hard work and dedication of Mississippi County Sheriff Dale Cook and the investigators with his office who worked 18 hour days non-stop uncovering every lead and flipping over every rock until Ashton was brought home safely.”
Sheriff Cook stated, “Our number one goal all along has been to locate and safely return Ashton home to Mississippi County, and we have done that. I cannot say enough about all of our investigators and the multitude of law enforcement agencies who partnered together to bring about this very positive result of Ashton’s safe return home to Mississippi County.”
Prosecutor Ellington and Sheriff Cook stated that partner agencies include:
• Mississippi County Sheriff’s Department
• Scott Ellington, 2nd Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
• Arkansas State Police
• Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children
• Memphis International Airport Police & Security
• Jonesboro Police Department
• Trumann, Arkansas Police Department
• National Center of Missing and Exploited Children
• Nebraska State Patrol
• Missouri Highway Patrol
• Hayti, Missouri Police Department
• Pemiscot County, Missouri Sheriff’s Department
• U.S. Marshal Service
• A.T.F.
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Pierce County, Washington Sheriff’s Department
• Washington County, Arkansas Prosecutor’s Office
• Crittenden County, Arkansas Sheriff’s Department
Read more about the girl’s recovery:
Be the first to comment