JERSEY VILLAGE, Texas (KBTX) – Sydney Marquez, the former Texas A&M student who went missing on Dec. 11, was found by police Friday morning. But after being released following multiple evaluations, her family says they still don’t know where she is.
The Jersey Village Police Department confirmed that around 12:58 a.m. on Jan. 2, they received a missing person call for service after a concerned citizen reported seeing Sydney walking along a roadway.
Officers say they found Sydney in the 16000 block of Seattle Street. That’s when a Jersey Village police officer contacted the lead Houston Police Department detective assigned to the missing person investigation and provided details regarding Sydney’s whereabouts.
“Officers were also contacted by Sydney’s father, who advised that she has a history of mental health challenges,” a statement from Jersey Village Police Department said. “He further advised that he was in El Paso, Texas at the time and would be returning to Houston on the next available flight.”
Officers said after speaking to Sydney, they “determined she was not a danger to herself or others,” and the legal criteria for an Emergency Detention Order were not met.
Jersey Village Fire Department EMS also conducted a medical evaluation, according to police, and they reported “no visible signs of trauma and no immediate need for further medical attention.”
“Sydney’s father subsequently contacted the co-founder of the Texas Counter-Trafficking Initiative, who responded to the police department,” police said. “Sydney initially agreed to leave with him, but later declined after speaking with him. He requested that Sydney contact her parents, and she advised that she would reach out to her mother by email at a later time. Sydney requested to leave of her own free will and advised that she did not want any assistance. She was released prior to her parents’ arrival in Houston at her own request.”
Sydney’s sister, Clarissa, told KBTX the family was not contacted by Jersey Police about Sydney being released, but an anonymous individual reached out to the family to let them know. The family then contacted the police to confirm.
Following the incident, Jersey Village police say they met with Sydney’s parents to review body camera footage from the encounter. The Marquez family has requested that if Sydney is seen, contact law enforcement to conduct a welfare check.
“At the time of the encounter, Sydney did not appear to be in crisis. As an adult, she was removed from missing status and released,” police said.
Clarissa told KBTX that the police department did apologize for letting her go, but the Marquez family expressed concern that Sydney was released alone.
Officers say assistance was offered, including hotel accommodations and food, which they say she declined.
She was last seen walking westbound in the 18500 block of the Northwest Freeway.
Sydney, who is from El Paso, went missing in Houston while visiting a friend. Her family says she has a documented mental health history, being diagnosed with Bipolar disorder, and they do not believe she is safe.
Anyone with information should contact the Jersey Village Police Department at 713-466-5824 or the Houston Police Department.
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