Last Updated on May 28, 2026 11:39 am
Sheriff B. Phil Howell is pleased to announce the safe return of a young woman from the Fleetwood
area who went missing early Tuesday, May 26th, 2026. The 19-year-old woman, who is a person living
with cognitive delays that impair decision-making abilities, is believed to have entered a vehicle and
was taken by persons she met online.
Family members later in the day became aware that the young woman was missing and alerted the Ashe
County Sheriff’s Office. Detective Brian Blanco was familiar with the young woman’s cognitive ability.
The Sheriff’s Office immediately treated the case like a missing and endangered child case and
activated the entire Investigations Division of the Sheriff’s Office. Within minutes, six detectives
responded from their homes and began working together to investigate the case.
Guided largely by information provided to our office by family members and friends of the young
woman, this investigation included a review of camera footage from various cameras at and around the
location where the young woman was last seen; a door-to-door canvas of the area, employing various
digital technology investigation techniques; as well as interviews with family, friends, and witnesses.
Through this investigation, it was determined that within minutes of the young woman entering the
subjects’ vehicle, she was driven out-of-state. Further investigation, including classified technology
investigative measures as well as good old-fashioned police work, led detectives to believe the young
woman was several states away with subjects unknown to her and her family. Upon Ashe County
Sheriff’s detectives discovering an exact address where the young woman was believed to be, our office
immediately dispatched the local law enforcement agency in Ohio.
At 7:15 PM on Wednesday, May 27th, Sgt. Detective Milam & Special Victims Detective Blanco made
contact with the young woman and took her safely into their custody in Cincinnati, Ohio. Our office is
relieved to announce that in the very early hours this morning, Ashe County detectives returned the
young woman to her family and to our community.
“From the moment our office became aware of the situation until the moment she was returned home
and walked into her bedroom, our detectives, deputies, and dispatchers worked constantly, through the
night, without yielding for a moment until her safe return. Several members of the community, whose
names we cannot reveal, were also instrumental in providing information that helped detectives quickly
bring this young lady home, and we remain grateful for the help and prayers from our community in
situations like this.” ~ Sheriff B. Phil Howell
