3-Year-Old Texas Girl Who Went Missing for 5 Months Is Found in Panama with Her Mom, Who Is Then Charged

Mar. 15, 2025

Rilee Crouch.Photo:Texas Department of Public Safety

Texas Department of Public Safety

A 3-year-old girl from South Padre Island, Texas, missing since early July has been found alive and with her mom in an alleged custody dispute, according to her family and local news reports.

A spokesperson for the family of Rilee Crouch said that she was located with her mother, Lillian Crouch, in Panama,ValleyCentraland ABC affiliateKRGVreported on Sunday, Dec. 29.

Rilee’s paternal grandmother, Cyndee Bailey, alleged that Lillian kidnapped her while trying to flee to Turkey, according to ValleyCentral.

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A spokesperson for the City of South Padre Island said that upon her arrival back in Harlingen, Texas, Rilee was released into the custody of her father, KRGV reported.

Lillianhas been chargedin Texas with interference with child custody and contempt of court and appeared before a judge on Monday, according to ValleyCentral.

It was not immediately clear if she has entered a plea or has an attorney who can comment on her behalf.

ValleyCentral reported that Lillian’s bond was set at $100,000 and she will continue to be under house arrest and required to wear a monitoring device.

In aGoFundMeestablished to raise funds in the search for Rilee, Dakota described the disappearance of his daughter as a “nightmare.”

“If you or anyone you know has ever been in this horrific situation, you can understand how we feel as a family,” Dakota wrote in the fundraiser description.

The Crouch family and local law enforcement did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment on Tuesday, Dec. 31.

source: people.com