Missing Michigan mother and baby found walking barefoot at Texas ranch

U.S. Border Patrol agents have found a Michigan mother and her baby at a southern Texas ranch four days after they were reported missing about 1,500 miles away.

Laredo border agents found the mother and child walking barefoot at a ranch in Webb County on Saturday, the sheriff's office wrote on Facebook.

Border Patrol agents identified the Michigan woman, who was reported missing on July 3 along with her child, using her state driver's license, according to the sheriff's office.

The pair were taken to safety and got medical treatment at a local hospital. The Border Patrol then turned them over to the sheriff's office.

Laredo North Agents located a missing Michigan mother and infant on July 6, 2024.
Laredo North Agents located a missing Michigan mother and infant on July 6, 2024.

The woman told officials that she ran out of gas while driving to South Padre Island, a town off the southern coast of Texas.

Border Patrol agents confirmed she was the mother who had been reported missing in Wyoming, Michigan, just outside of Grand Rapids.

Vanessa and the baby were evaluated at a local hospital and returned to their family in Michigan.

"I thank the United States Border Patrol for their quick response, and I commend my deputies for their efforts in coordinating with the woman's family to ensure her and her baby's safety," Sheriff Martin Cuellar said in a news release.

He said the case serves as a reminder to "stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Missing Michigan mother and baby found alive at south Texas ranch