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Jason Chlapek
jason.chlapek@granitemediapartners. com
A missing Bastrop woman was found alive Jan. 2 after nine days without contact, bringing relief to her family after calling law enforcement on a daily basis.
Brianna Marino and Marissa Mitchell said they had no contact with their younger sister, Savanna Mitchell, 29, from Dec. 24 to Jan. 2 and repeatedly called police during that time out of concern for her safety. The sisters said they feared Savanna was experiencing a mental health crisis after receiving a call from her the week prior.
“We wanted to report her as a missing person, but she didn’t meet the criteria for a missing person,” Marissa said. “They tried to do a welfare check, but said if we didn’t receive a call back, they didn’t find her.”
Savanna had lived in Bastrop for about a year and was homeless for around a month, according to the sisters. The Bastrop Police Department attempted welfare checks as early as Dec. 19.
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“Savanna did not choose to be homeless, and she borrowed phones to check in with people,” Marino said.
After hearing nothing from her following Christmas, the sisters said they began calling police daily to ask whether there had been any contact with Savanna.
A photo was provided and police said Savanna was last seen Dec. 24 with her dog, Ella, at the Bastrop Bark Park on Grady Truck Lane.
Marissa Mitchell said she decided to search for her sister herself Jan. 2 after receiving information from the public.
“We headed to the kayaking area near the Colorado River and someone said they saw a girl who had a mental crisis,” she said. “We drove down that way and called dispatch to try and get someone to find her.”
Mitchell said an officer she spoke with was shocked a missing person report had not been filed.
First responders met her at Fisherman’s Park and deployed a drone to assist in the search.
Savanna was located and transported to an area hospital. She has since been released to a treatment facility.
“Savanna will receive services at the facility, and we hope that her situation will be taken more seriously in the future,” Marissa said. “Savanna is a beautiful soul.”
She said Savanna will live with family after treatment and expects her to stay on the plan doctors provide.
