Wylie police are continuing the search Thursday for a missing woman last seen Sunday evening at her home on Parkwood Drive.
According to Wylie police, a man called at about 6:35 a.m. on Monday to report that his wife, 46-year-old Melonie Ballenger, was missing from their home. Upon arrival, officers learned that Ballenger left the residence at 10 p.m. Sunday without her phone or vehicle.
"Her husband was the one that reported her missing, and he has been cooperative with our investigators, submitting to interviews, and helping out with anything that's needed," Sgt. Donald English with the Wylie Police Department said.
Investigators, K9 search dogs, and a Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter searched the area but were unable to find her.
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A CLEAR Alert was later issued and a coordinated search began on Tuesday at 1 p.m. near Wylie's city hall at 300 Country Club Road.
"We've searched most of the wooded areas and there's a dam nearby," English said. "We searched the waterways near her residence, and we're just kind of following up on any place that she could be."
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Police have asked the family and public to avoid any independent searches.
"They could contaminate the scene," English said.
Still, Wylie police said they have not solidified when another search could occur.
Ballenger's friends and family spent the last few days distributing more than 1,000 fliers, hoping someone in or around Wylie had seen the mother of two.
“What I would say to her is, just come back to us. And if anyone's out there that sees her and can help her, help her come back to us, we miss her. We love her. We don't care why she's gone. We just want her back," said her husband, Daniel Ballenger.
Daniel said he doesn't know why his wife left, only that she left behind her phone, wallet, and critical blood pressure medicine. She's scheduled to have a heart procedure in the next few weeks.
“We've been married almost 22 years now, 22 years in March. She's a wonderful mother, amazing wife, stays at home, kind of a private person, keeps to herself for the most part, but would do anything for anyone," he said.
According to English, the last confirmed identification of Ballenger investigators was on Saturday afternoon. Credit card history and surveillance video show Ballenger at a Walmart Supercenter in Murphy off West Farm-to-Market Road 544. The store is located about three miles away from Ballenger's home.
Ballenger is white, 5 feet 7 inches tall, and weighs approximately 135 pounds. She has brown hair. What she was last wearing is not known.
Wylie police encouraged residents to check outdoor camera footage for possible video of Ballenger between midnight and 6 a.m. Monday.
"We're leaving no stone unturned. So, our plan is to hopefully find Melanie and bring her home," English said. "We're still conducting interviews with family members and anybody who may have seen her. Actually, we're going through the volumes of surveillance video that local public has sent to us."
Anyone with information is urged to contact Wylie police dispatch at 972-442-8171.
TEXAS STATEWIDE ALERT PROGRAMS
Eight kinds of alerts can be issued for missing or endangered people in Texas. Below are links to articles with more information about each type of alert.
- Active Shooter Alert
- AMBER Alert & Athena Alert
- Blue Alert
- Silver Alert
- CLEAR Alert
- Camo Alert (no longer operational)
- Endangered Missing Person Alert
- Power Outage Alert
