Van Zandt County teen found safe, two suspects arrested for kidnapping

Published 4:46 pm Friday, May 15, 2020

A missing Van Zandt County teen was found safe in Kentucky, and two suspects have been arrested for kidnapping.

The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office FBI Dallas Field Office announced Thursday night Willow Sirmans, 14, of Grand Saline, was found safe and in good health. Sirmans was found at a residence in the Louisville, Kentucky area with Austen Walker, 21.

Walker and another suspect Courtney Odum were both arrested for kidnapping.

Before she was located, Sirmans was last seen Monday at 10 p.m. within the 3000 block of Van Zandt County Road 1712, according to Texas Department of Public Safety. She was reported missing on Tuesday afternoon. An Amber Alert was issued late Wednesday.

The FBI Dallas Field Office deployed resources to help the sheriff’s office and a felony warrant for kidnapping was issued Thursday for Walker. As the investigation continued, authorities determined Walker and Sirmans were with Courtney Odum in a 2012 white Toyota Camry. Through the Amber Alert, Odum was located and interviewed by FBI special agents.

Odum’s questioning led officials to find Sirmans in Louisville with Walker. He is being held in Oldham County Detention Center in LaGrange, Kentucky. Odum was taken into custody in Missouri.