AISD: Missing student case of "Custodial Interference"
*UPDATE 11/16* Austin Independent School District has confirmed police have issued an arrest warrant for a 10-year-old girl's mother on the charge of interference with child custody. Principal Lori Komassa of Oak Hill Elementary sent a letter to parents last night.
It looked like another regular school day at Oak Hill Elementary. There was nothing, Wednesday, to indicate that one of the students was last seen here before being taken by a family member.
In a statement to FOX 7, AISD has now classified the situation as "Custodial Interference."
An image of a 10-year-old girl, recorded while she was still at Oak Hill Elementary, was released Tuesday by the AISD Police Department.
More pictures of the girl leaving with her mother were posted on the AISD Police Department Facebook site; but not released anywhere else. A District spokesperson would not say why the girl was allowed to leave the school with the wrong parent.
The vehicle used in the abduction is described as a grey or green 2002 Ford van with a license plate number of BSD3195
A private investigator who specializes in child abduction cases, Phil Klein says the first 48 hours are always critical. But there is another point Klein said is very important.
Typically, the appearance of the child, changes.
"What you would look for if you are a citizen out there and looking for this child, you’d look for hats, you'd look for blonde roots in dark hair, which is highly unusual for A 10-year-old, you’d look for what we call loose clothing because the parents sometimes think if I put loose clothes on them people will, it will change their appearance, they won’t appear like they do on TV,” said Klein.
A few years ago, Klein helped with the recovery of Sabrina Allen.
She was taken and hidden in Mexico by her mother. It took several years for Sabrina to be found and brought back home which is why Klein says families can't abandon hope.
"Never give up, it is never too long, I’ve solved cases, my team solved cases twelve years out to twelve days out, you never give up all we need is somebody in the public to give the police forgive officers a tip, don’t just look at something and say, nah. I don’t need to say anything, if you see something say something. It’s so important,” said Klein.
Officials at AISD declined to provide anyone from the administration or the police department to do an on camera briefing. If you have information about this case, please contact the AISD Police Department or your local law enforcement agency.