Twyla Tarvin Missing: 14-Year-Old Baldwin County Girl with Special Needs Found Safe Under Shed
On Monday, a missing teenage girl from Spanish Fort with special needs was found safe under a shed after a distressing search. Fourteen-year-old Twyla Tarvin had been reported missing after disappearing from her home on Buzbee Road on Saturday.
Her family and community had launched an intensive search for her. Stephanie Sellers, Twyla’s mother, expressed her relief upon finding her daughter. “There’s an unexplainable joy because, of course, we had been fearing the worst,” Sellers said.
Twyla, who is on the autism spectrum, had left home on Saturday and left her cell phone behind, which added to the family’s concern. A Blink motion-activated surveillance camera captured footage of Twyla at around 1:30 a.m. Sunday.
The video showed her looking around a shed located on a property at the end of Huckleberry Drive, about a mile from her home. Authorities later found her in that very location on Monday. “I just started calling her name, and she came out from underneath the shed,” Sellers recounted.
The family’s dogs had been persistently circling the shed, which led them to the spot where Twyla was eventually found. She explained that she had crawled under the shed and had been there since her disappearance.
Her family reported that Twyla had appeared happy before she went missing, and they are unsure why she left. “It’s unusual for her to act this way, but when someone is on the spectrum or has autism, they might have thoughts or feelings we don’t fully understand,” said her uncle, Christopher Williams.
The search involved extensive efforts from various agencies and volunteers. Law enforcement and members of the United Cajun Navy employed search dogs, drones, and a helicopter to find Twyla. Community members also played a crucial role by walking through the woods, distributing flyers, and knocking on doors to gather information and raise awareness.
Volunteer Kayla Wilson explained her motivation for joining the search: “I have an 11-year-old daughter, and if she were lost like this, I would want the community to help us as well. Many of us are mothers who came together to make a difference and find her.”
Sellers expressed profound gratitude for the support they received, saying, “We’re just grateful to God. I know only God could have brought her back safely.” The family is relieved to have Twyla back home safe and sound.
The incident highlights the importance of community and the impact that collective efforts can have in times of need. The search for Twyla Tarvin demonstrates the power of compassion and the human spirit, and serves as a reminder that even in the most challenging situations, there is always hope.
