INDIANAPOLIS — Police in Texas have apprehended the parents of three Indianapolis children at the center of a Silver Alert after a standoff.
Officers in Pearsall, Texas, took Willie and Jessika Terrell into custody Tuesday night after a barricade situation at a motel. The couple was being sought by police after reportedly taking their three children, of whom they do not have custody.
The Frio County sheriff told 13News the couple's children — 4-year-old Frankie, 3-year-old Queen and 1-year-old King — are safe and are being cared for. A spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety said the children were being taken in for a medical evaluation.
Willie and Jessika Terrell are being booked into the Frio County Jail, the sheriff said.
Indiana State Police canceled the Silver Alert for the Terrell children early Wednesday morning.
"We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the community for your support, tips, and information, which were instrumental in the safe recovery of these children," an IMPD spokesperson wrote in a release.
The Texas DPS spokesperson said the barricade situation started around 3 p.m. Central Daylight Time. It was resolved about seven hours later.
Indiana State Police issued the statewide Silver Alert for the children on Friday, July 5. The children were last seen around 12:30 p.m. Thursday, July 4 with their biological parents, Willie and Jessika Terrell.
Police said the parents met the grandfather, who has custody of the children, at a restaurant for a meeting approved by the Department of Child Services. The grandfather said he went to the bathroom and when he came back, the children and parents were gone.
According to court documents, police checked the parents' phones and got a ping from one of them in Columbus, Texas.
Court documents claim Willie called his therapist and said the children were OK. He mentioned he was 288 miles from Mexico, and he wanted the FBI to investigate why his children kept being taken from him.
Police pinged the phone again on July 9, and it came back to Pearsall, Texas — which is about 55 miles southwest of San Antonio and 100 miles from Mexico.
Police said the children were believed to be in extreme danger and might have needed medical assistance.
"We feel they're in danger because they're on medication," IMPD Ofc. Tommy Thompson told 13News before the children were found safe. "All of them have a medication they need to take daily and, unfortunately, during the abduction, the medication was not taken with them, so these children need that medication."
Thompson also had a plea for Willie and Jessika Terrell on Tuesday.
"If you're the parents, contact us, communicate with us and let's get this righted before it goes south in the wrong direction," Thompson said.
EDITOR'S NOTE: 13News has removed the photos of the three children after they were found safe.
Amber Alert vs. Silver Alert: What's the difference?
There are specific standards a person's disappearance must meet in order for police to declare an Amber Alert or a Silver Alert.
Amber Alerts are for children under the age of 18 who are believed to have been abducted and in danger. Police also need to have information about a suspect and their car to issue an Amber Alert.
Silver Alerts are for missing and endangered adults or children. They are much more common for missing people. It was not until last year when the standards for Silver Alerts were expanded to include children.
In both situations, these alerts must be issued by police.
