Video shows amber alert rescue

TAOS COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) - State Police released the dash camera video that captured the moments after the subject of an Amber Alert was found in New Mexico Sunday.

Police issued the Amber Alert last Tuesday when Jessica Smith, 11, and her mother, Kimberly Smith, 42, had vanished from their home in Fort Worth, TX.

Authorities said Smith tried to kill Jessica by shoving a rag down her throat, when a family member stepped in, Smith said she was going to kill Jessica then herself.

The next day Smith and Jessica were gone.

The video is the first glimpse of Jessica after she was found.

The officer tracked down Jessica and her mom Kimberly Smith on a snowy forest road in Taos County.

They had kept out of sight until Sunday when authorities traced Kimberly’s cell phone to the area.

The officer asked Jessica how her mom had been treating her, Jessica responded, “she’s been fine, she hasn’t hurt me.”

Investigators said the two were dehydrated and showing signs of hypothermia.

Jessica told the officer they had not eaten in a week and it is clear from the video they are both disoriented.
Smith can barely walk she is so weak and once Jessica makes it to the patrol car she collapses on the hood.

Once inside the car she tried to get her bearings asking the officer what city they are in, when he told her they were in Tres Piedras, Jessica seemed confused saying she thought they were in Albuquerque.

Jessica was reunited with her family in Texas on Monday. Kimberly Smith is in the middle of a divorce from the Jessica’s father and as of Thursday night, she is still sitting in a New Mexico jail awaiting extradition to Texas.

Smith faces charges of kidnapping, child endangerment and aggravated assault for shoving a rag down her daughter’s throat a day before they disappeared.