Police locate missing girl, mom in NM

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A mother and daughter from Texas, who were the subjects of an amber alert, have been located nine miles south of Tres Piedras on U.S. Highway 285.

Based on tips investigators received, New Mexico State Police had been canvassing the state of New Mexico for the past few days.

At approximately 1:00 p.m. Sunday, New Mexico State Police Officers located 11-year-old Jessica Smith and her mother, Kimberly Smith, 42, in their car nine miles South of Tres Piedras, New Mexico which is on the edge of the Carson National Forest.

Both Kimberly and Jessica appeared to be very exhausted and hungry; they were both immediately transported Holy Cross Hospital in Taos, New Mexico to receive further medical attention.

Authorities say Jessica did not appear to be physically injured , was in good spirits and very happy to be found at the time she was located.

Jessica and Kimberly disappeared from Fort Worth, Texas Tuesday Feb. 7, and an Amber Alert was issued there after the girl didn't show up for school. Tips were called into Albuquerque police on last week, but none turned up the girl or her mother.

News reports in Dallas-Fort Worth indicate Jessica and had been talking with a counselor at school about problems at home and that her father was arrested in October and charged with child sex abuse.

An older sister told reporters their mother apparently didn't want Jessica talking to the counselor, but police aren't saying why the pair had disappeared.

Kimberly will eventually be extradited to Fort Worth on her two felony warrants; aggravated assault and endangering a child.