Missing woman found safe

A woman who was the subject of a “Silver Alert” issued on behalf of the San Marcos Police Department has been located safe and sound.

Police sent out a notice that Sandra Etheredge, 76, and her son — who were traveling in separate vehicles — got separated near downtown Tuesday morning at the railroad crossing on S. LBJ Drive. The son’s vehicle cleared the crossing but Etheredge was delayed by a train. After the track cleared, he was unable to find her, police said, adding that she had been diagnosed with dementia and her disappearance posed a “credible threat to her own health and safety.”

Police sent out their alert at 4:31 p.m. and at 5:47 p.m., the Silver Alert was issued for much of Texas, including San Angelo, Fort Worth, Houston and Corpus Christi in addition to Austin/San Antonio, complete with her physical description and the description and license plate number of the car she was driving..

Police said she was found “safe at a business in Austin” shortly before 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Someone in Austin spotted her and alerted police there, who made contact with the woman. SMPD Chief Chase Stapp also said “multiple hits” were received on her vehicle through automated license plate reader technology.

Stapp thanked everyone who assisted in returning Etheredge to her family.