A missing Texas middle school teacher was caught on surveillance footage parking her Lexus SUV in New Orleans and walking away just a day after her disappearance.
Those watching are concerned that Reynolds may have wandered into the water in a delirious state.
A nonprofit search and rescue organization is searching the Mississippi River for signs of 48-year-old Michelle Reynolds, whose husband first reported her missing Thursday.
Michael Reynolds had said his wife told him she was going to get food that day but never returned to their home in Alvin, Texas.
Her SUV was later found hundreds of miles away in the Big Easy Saturday, with her cell phone, driver’s license and credit cards still inside.
Officials now fear the mother-of-three may have become confused and waded into the river after driving to New Orleans and abandoning her car.
Michelle Reynolds, 48, was reported missing Thursday after telling her husband she was going to get food. Her Lexus SUV was later found in New Orleans with her belongings still inside
Surveillance footage is said to show Reynolds parking her car on Saint Peters Street in New Orleans just after noon on Friday and walking away
After Michelle first disappeared, Michael told KHOU he used Lexus roadside assistance to locate Michelle’s Lexus NX 300 and was shocked to spot it in New Orleans.
He then drove to Louisiana over the weekend to find his wife and bring her home, but Michael and Michelle’s brother could only find their cell phone, which was still charged, ID and credit cards in their car.
That’s when Michael enlisted the help of Texas EquuSearch, a nonprofit search and rescue team, which was able to obtain surveillance footage of Michelle parking the silver car near a church on St. Peters Street just after noon on Friday.
“We were monitored as she actually parked her car on Saint Peters Street at 12:01 p.m. Friday afternoon, and then which direction she was walking,” Tim Miller, founder of Texas EquuSearch, told FOX 26.
He added that “Saint Peters Street is pretty close to the Mississippi River,” and worries Michelle may have wandered into the water in an insane state.
Miller now wants to follow her steps after parking the SUV.
Shortly after receiving the video from a nearby company, he said his organization blew up a helicopter and searched the banks of the Mississippi and the river itself for the Fairview Junior High School teacher.
But so far, Miller said, search efforts have been unsuccessful.
“I just got the video back from about 20 miles down the river to see if she’s in there,” he told KHOU. “You didn’t think of anything.”
Miller has since traveled to New Orleans himself, where he plans to meet with city police and the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office.
He also hopes to have another helicopter in the river along with a boat on Wednesday to continue search efforts.
Michael Reynolds, Michelle’s husband, used Lexus roadside assistance to locate her car and found her cell phone, ID and credit card still charged inside
He said he now believes his wife may have been confused when she disappeared last week
Both Miller and Michael now fear Michelle was confused when she disappeared.
“We know Michelle was confused. There were some things that were going on,” Michael told FOX 26.
“In the beginning we were like, ‘Was she kidnapped by the car? Is anything else happening?’” he remarked, “until we got this surveillance and yes, she parked at 12:01, got out of her car and walked off.
“So we now know that there was no foul play from point A to point B.”
“Hopefully she’s confused and wanders over there and someone will see her and we’ll bring her back safely,” he lamented. “That’s certainly the goal.”
Michael is now back in Texas trying to comfort his children as the search effort continues.
“I’m going back to Houston now because I have three kids,” he said Monday. “My daughter is having a really tough time, as is my 13-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son.
“Please keep an eye out for Michelle. We love her and miss her very much. We’re doing everything we can to get her home safely.
A non-profit organization is now helping find the middle school teacher at Fairview Junior High in the Alvin Independent School District
Missing persons reports were filed in both Texas and Louisiana for the middle school teacher at Fairview Junior High in the Alvin Independent School District, about 25 miles south of Houston.
Michelle Reynolds smiles in a photo posted to her public Facebook account
It is not known what clothes Michelle was wearing at the time of her disappearance, but she may have been wearing black leggings.
People.com spoke to Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Danny Lares, who said they are continuing to investigate any information regarding the 48-year-old’s disappearance.
“Our investigators are following up on all leads,” Sgt. Lares said in an interview. “They try to check if she’s been in contact with anyone and follow the clues and see where they lead.”
Reynolds is described as being 5 feet 10 inches tall with a thin build. She has blond hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office at 979-864-2392.
The matter is currently being investigated by officials.