UPDATE: Search continues for missing autistic girl

Tuesday, Sheriff Dale Cook said the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Department, along with several other agencies, continues to search for the autistic teen that went missing early Saturday morning.

KIPP Blytheville senior Ashton Talley has been missing from her Highway 312 South home since 3:50 a.m. Saturday.

Talley received a text message from a Washington number at 3:16 a.m. and she responded a minute later.

She is described as 5-foot-2, 135 pounds with black hair, brown eyes and she wears glasses.

Talley was last seen wearing a navy blue or gray hoodie with a black or gray Lynryd Skynyrd t-shirt, as well as pink and blue striped shorts and white tennis shoes.

“We are in communication with law enforcement officials, and are providing as much information as we can to help bring Ashton home safely,” said Chris Mayes, school director at KIPP Blytheville Collegiate High School. “Ashton’s disappearance is a sobering reminder of how so much can go wrong so fast. As educators, it is also a clear reminder that keeping students safe is tantamount to everything. We urge anyone who might know anything about this case to contact the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Department at 870-658-2243 or Blytheville Crime Stoppers at 844-910-STOP. We are sending up our best wishes, hopes, and prayers to Ashton and her family.”

Talley’s step-mother, Dara Still, said this is a scary time for the family.

“Ashton was born with disabilities, she has Moebius syndrome, which causes facial paralysis,” Still said. “Her face muscles are so weak that she cannot see with her glasses. She must turn her whole head to look at something, no peripheral vision. With this condition there are often other deformities, Ashton's right hand is very small compared to her left, and she isn't able to use it much. Ashton was also born with Gastroschisis, which is when the intestines are on the outside of the body. And on top of all this, she is on the autism spectrum...Asperger syndrome. She is very socially awkward, and lacks functional life skills. Authorities are working diligently to locate her... As of now we haven't been able to locate her, but there are leads. I ask that you all please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. This is a feeling I hope no one else ever experiences.”

Still reminds parents of the importance of internet safety.

“I never dreamed I would face something like this,” she said. “Right now it is scary, and we aren't even sure about her well-being...Thank you for all the prayers and kind words of support many of you have shared...”