AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Police Department has confirmed they found a missing teen in North Austin Saturday afternoon – and Sierra Symone Brown's family told KVUE Saturday, Jan. 18, that she is no longer missing.
Last week, police said 16-year-old Brown had last been seen on Jan. 6 in the 1600 block of Airport Commerce Drive at 1:31 p.m. She was reported missing at 5:30 p.m. later that day.
Police described Brown as a black female who is 5 feet, 7 inches tall and 170 pounds. She has black hair that is shoulder-length, brown eyes and braces on her teeth. She was last seen wearing a red windbreaker jacket, gray tights and tan ankle boots.
Prior to being located, Brown was reportedly seen walking out of the Staybridge Suites located at 1611 Commerce Drive. Police said at the time that Brown could be in the East Riverside Drive area near East Ben White Boulevard.
Brown's father, Willie, told KVUE they were staying at the hotel because he is here on business. They are from North Texas.
"She has ran away before, and she's always came back – a lot of times, she'll just walk somewhere and go think, get her mind cleared and come back," Willie said. "But this time, I'm worried because we're in a new city. We don't live here, and she could be anywhere. I'm really concerned for her safety."
On Jan. 7, police said Brown was spotted by a citizen around 4:30 p.m., walking on Bolm Road toward Airport Boulevard, wearing the same clothing. At the time, police said the citizen did not know she was the missing girl until seeing posts on social media, so she later called police.
"With everything that's going on, all the trafficking and teenage girls coming up missing, it's very frightening," Willie said. "I just want my daughter found. I just want her to come home."
According to police, Brown has medical conditions that created a concern for her welfare.
Krum ISD in Denton County confirmed Brown is currently enrolled as a student at Krum High School.
As of Jan. 9, Brown was being considered a runaway.
On Sunday, Jan. 11, Brown's family spent the day handing out flyers in Downtown Austin. Brown's family told KVUE then that they believed she might be with people who are homeless in the area. Brown's father said he had been told by several people that they had seen her in the area.
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