The Hurst Police Department is seeking the public's help finding 16-year-old Zoe Rowbotham who was last seen around 9 p.m. on Sunday at Bluebonnet Drive and Arwine Drive in Hurst.
"I just want her home, I just want to know where she's at and I want her to keep getting the help she needs," said Catrina Rowbotham, Zoe's mother.
She and her husband, Andre, spent the last several days on the phone and printing flyers as friends, family, colleagues and law enforcement looked for their daughter.
"It wasn't real until the AMBER Alert came out. I mean, it was real, but the AMBER Alert hit, and I was like, 'My baby is a missing child,'" cried Rowbotham.
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On Tuesday an AMBER Alert officially went out for their daughter.
"I just want my kid, I don't know where she's at, I'm worried for her because of the mental illness and her propensity to find trouble and not know she's in trouble," said Rowbotham.
She said within the last year the 16-year-old was diagnosed with conduct disorder, borderline personality disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression.
The family said on Sunday Zoe was agitated regarding some chores. They also believe she was upset regarding planned treatment for her mental health.
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"Her anxiety was high. She knows that she was scheduled to go to a long-term hospital facility for treatment and so that was probably tipping her over," explained Andre.
Her father said he took her for a walk to help Zoe calm down. Andre said they walked their normal route through the neighborhood when Zoe insisted on going a different way.
"We had made it basically halfway through the walk and she just got really defiant. She wasn't going to go the way I wanted to head back, the shorter way. She was going to take the long way, and so I figured I'll head back, get my phone, and then catch her at the top of the hill. And Katrina knew that I was having a hard time with her, and she picked me up in the car," explained Andre. "And by the time we got to the top of the hill where she should have been, she wasn't there."
He said they searched for hours in the neighborhood, but think she went through Rickel Park to El Camino Real St. where someone said they saw her.
Zoe's parents said she doesn't have a phone with her or any money.
Rowbotham is white and stands about 5 feet 6 inches tall. She weighs about 240 pounds and has brown hair and hazel eyes.
Police said Rowbotham has a diminished mental health capacity and is in need of medication. They believe she is traveling by foot.
She was last seen wearing a black T-shirt with white lettering, black bicycle shorts and white shoes.
"Zoe has never met a stranger," said Andre as he reflected on his daughter's personality. "She has a huge, huge heart."
Anyone with information about Rowbotham's whereabouts is asked to call 911 or contact the Hurst Police Department at 817-788-7180. Police are also asking for neighbors in the area to check surveillance/doorbell security footage for any activity that night.
TEXAS STATEWIDE ALERT PROGRAMS
There are eight kinds of alerts that can be issued for missing or endangered people in Texas. They are listed below with links to a page with more information.
- Active Shooter Alert
- AMBER Alert
- Blue Alert
- Silver Alert
- CLEAR Alert
- Camo Alert (no longer operational)
- Endangered Missing Person Alert
- Power Outage Alert
