A Texas woman who vanished without vital medication on Monday morning has been found safe, police confirmed.
Melonie Ballenger, 46, went to bed with her husband, Daniel, at their home in Wylie, Texas on Sunday evening. However, in the early hours on Monday morning, the family woke to find she had finished without her “cash, credit card, wallet, ID,” her husband of 22-years explained.
An extensive search was launched including K9 units, a helicopter and flyering, yielding no results.
Local residents were even asked to review outdoor camera footage between 6:45 p.m. on Saturday and 6 a.m. on Monday to help cops search for clues, while on Thursday, the Texas Department of Public Safety issued a Coordinated Law Enforcement Adult Rescue Alert, which helps authorities find missing, kidnapped, or abducted adults aged 18 to 64, who “are in immediate danger of injury or death.”
However, good news finally arrived on Friday afternoon when Wylie Police Department confirmed that she had been found just over a mile from her home.
“At approximately 5:15 pm, Melonie was located near Abby Ln and Tyler Trail by a resident. She was found to be severely dehydrated but otherwise in good health, “ a statement from the force read.
“Melonie is currently being reunited with her family and taken to a hospital for treatment. We want to thank everyone who worked day and night trying to find her. Please respect the privacy of the family as they reunite with their loved one. Again, Melonie has been located and is safe.”
The fears over Melonie’s whereabouts grew as the mom-of-two is due to undergo heart surgery in the coming weeks and also left medication “critical” to her health at her home.
The fears were felt across the community, with neighbors packing the Gateway Community Church offering prayers for Ballenger’s safe return at a vigil on Tuesday night after the country cast its ballots in the presidential election.
