Missing teen reunited with family

BARLING — A teen was reunited with her family Tuesday after an Amber Alert was issued for her early in the morning.

Madison Baker, 14, went missing from the 13th and D Street area in Barling around 5:30 p.m. Monday wearing a gray Northside Grizzly pullover and gray Mickey Mouse pajama bottoms and white shoes, the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office reported.

The Sheriff ’s Office later updated on social media Madison had been found safe, and thanked the community for helping find her.

The Sheriff ’s Office reported during a news conference Madison went missing on her way to a babysitting job and was found by a neighbor nearby the next morning who took her home. They didn’t identify the neighbor, but said the person has been cooperative and hasn’t been arrested.

Police declined to say whether Madison was abducted. They said she’s undergoing a forensic examination, which is routine for missing persons cases.

“We have not established there is an ongoing threat to the community. If there is, we will let you know, and let everyone in this community know as soon as we know,” said Philip Pevehouse, captain of the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office.

“We are happy that she’s been reunited with her family. We’re ecstatic,” said Colleen Nick, CEO of the Morgan Nick Foundation, which provides support and services to families and law enforcement for all missing persons cases.

Nick said the foundation sees a roughly 95% reunification rate in missing children cases. She said those still in need of services can call the foundation at (479) 632-6382 for more information.

(NWA Democrat-Gazette/Hank Layton) James Whatley (left), uncle of Madison Baker, gathers with other family, community members and Morgan Nick Foundation representatives Colleen Nick (right) and Shawnda Stubbs (center) on Tuesday outside the Baker house. Madison, 14, was reported missing and the subject of an Amber Alert and was later found safe in Barling. Go to nwaonline.com/221123Daily/ for today’s photo gallery.