A 12-year-old Lincoln boy who was reported missing last week was located Thursday in Texarkana, Texas, and placed in protective custody, the U.S. Marshals Service said. The arrest of a 49-year-old woman who was with the boy was handled by a multi‑jurisdictional law enforcement effort that began in Lincoln.
What changed for Lincoln residents
The immediate concern for families in Lincoln — that a missing child had left the city — was resolved when federal marshals located the juvenile in Texas. Local authorities say the boy is safe and in protective custody while the woman arrested with him awaits extradition to Nebraska on criminal charges.
Lincoln police opened the investigation after a missing person report was filed on June 26, according to a news release from the U.S. Marshals Service. The juvenile had gone to a friend’s house on June 25 and did not return. Investigators learned the boy had been seen near the People’s City Mission with a friend and a woman.
| Key dates | Action |
|---|---|
| June 25 | Boy went to a friend’s house and did not return |
| June 26 | Missing person report filed with Lincoln police |
| Following week | Law enforcement traced tickets and requested fugitive task force assistance |
| Thursday | Marshals located the boy and arrested a woman in Texarkana, Texas |
How the case unfolded
Lincoln police investigators determined the woman — identified in the news release as Tracy Riley, 49 — purchased three bus tickets to Texarkana, Arkansas. Nebraska authorities asked the Nebraska Metro Fugitive Task Force to assist in locating Riley. That request led to cooperation with the Western District of Arkansas Task Force and the Texarkana Police Department, which helped locate the pair in a park on Thursday.
- Arrest: Riley was arrested by the Western District of Arkansas Task Force at a park in Texarkana, Texas.
- Charges: Riley faces charges of violation of custody and contributing to the delinquency of a minor and is awaiting extradition to Nebraska.
- Child’s condition: The U.S. Marshals Service reported the juvenile "
appeared in good health
" and is now under protective care.
Officials have not released additional details about how the boy came to be in Riley’s care or the motivations behind the travel to Texas. Extradition timing will be determined by legal processes between Texas and Nebraska authorities.
Local context and next steps
The case underscores the role of interagency cooperation when missing-person cases cross state lines. The U.S. Marshals Service coordinated with federal and local task forces to locate the juvenile. Lincoln parents and guardians may see increased patrols or outreach from social services as investigators and child protective agencies complete their review.
Anyone with additional information about the case or similar incidents is encouraged to contact Lincoln police. The investigation remains active as authorities prepare for extradition and any subsequent criminal proceedings.
