Courtney Taylor Martin

Courtney Taylor Martin was reported missing on May 24, 2023. After more than a year, Martin’s whereabouts remain unknown.

Now, her sister Ali Ashcraft is trying to make a difference for families like hers, who sometimes don’t know where to turn for help and are desperate for answers about their missing loved ones.

Ashcraft has felt hopeless at times as the search for Martin hasn’t produced results. Recently, Ashcraft started a community group to help others like her find support.

“After a year of my sister being missing, I was left feeling very lost and confused as to where to go from there,” said Ashcraft, a Tyler resident. “It occurred to me that I wanted to create a platform where there would be no families that ever felt the way I did, which was alone.”

Ashcraft is channeling her grief toward raising awareness not only for her sister but also for others who have gone missing with the creation of the ‘Tyler, Texas Missing Persons Support and Awareness Group.’

Since it began on May 19, the Facebook group has gained more than 1,200 likes and followers, mobilizing a community of families, friends and supporters from East Texas, across the state, and nationally.

The group is designed to be a support system for families of the missing persons in Tyler. It serves three primary purposes: providing emotional support, sharing valuable resources and building a robust supportive community among those facing similar challenges.

“As I started to research and [found] that there were so many other families in Tyler that were just the same as me, I felt that it was really important with all of us having missing family members to come together and start trying to highlight these cases again,” Ashcraft said.

When a family member is missing, it’s tough for loved ones to find closure without knowing what has happened to them. The uncertainty can cause emotional pain and make it challenging to move forward, said Larry Christian, Smith County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer.

Families of missing individuals, researchers and sympathizers can share resources, offer emotional support and raise awareness for cases that have gone cold. The platform is for sharing information, fostering a community and finding answers.

Ashcraft felt a lack of education and resources when her sister went missing.

The group aims to bridge the gap by connecting families with groups like Texas EquuSearch and East Texas Mounted Search and Rescue and resources like NamUs or the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, a nationwide database overseen by the U.S. Department of Justice.

“[NamUs] helps identify these people that are missing,” Ashcraft said. “I didn’t know that as a family member, you can go to a local NamUs site or the sheriff agency that’s investigating and ask them to do a swab so they can put that DNA [on] file for a missing family member.”

The group connects people with search party groups and organizations and acts as an established platform to quickly disperse information on loved ones. Ashcraft highlighted the significance of leveraging social platforms to disseminate information.

Christian said families provide vital information about the missing, including dental records, habits and photos. The public’s involvement in spreading and sharing information is often pivotal in solving cases of missing persons.

Ashcraft stressed the importance of prompt action and the potential to aid current cases of missing persons and prevent future occurrences through proactive community engagement and swift responses.

“Social media has become such a valuable resource to us, and it’s a way to connect people of all ages, generations and all over,” Ashcraft said. “It’s something that can be heavily utilized to find more information.”

Many people go missing and are found either alive or dead, Ashcraft said. In her research, she compiled a list of 21 missing people in Tyler going back to 1979 who were never seen or heard from again, including her sister.

“Twenty-one people in such a small area who have vanished without a trace is heartbreaking,” Ashcraft said. “A lot of the people that were missing on the list came from backgrounds where they were either addicts or may have already been considered by society, forgotten, and many of them, too, were just young people that were out at night.”

Martin was last seen on May 16, 2023, in a car with a man who was investigated but cleared in her disappearance. Martin, a 35-year-old white female, is 5-foot-5 and weighs 250 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Her mental illness and autism make her part of a vulnerable population, Ashcraft said.

Law enforcement expects the public to view mental illness and drug addiction as a sickness rather than a lifestyle choice and to be compassionate and vigilant to help them be located.

“We’re going to treat all of our missing persons and runaway cases the same,” Christian said. “They’re still humans and they’re still loved by family and friends.”

Known for her kindness and non-discriminatory nature, she was often seen in the “tent city” near Super 1 Foods on East Gentry. When Martin went missing, it was shocking for her family, and they knew something was wrong.

Because of her background, Ashcraft said her concerns for her sister were not taken as seriously at first. Sometimes, stigma about a person’s situation can cause the public to look the other way.

“A lot of us think we’re safe, and in many ways we are, but when we go out in public and we don’t stay aware of our surroundings, that’s the first thing that can put us in danger,” Ashcraft said.

She urges residents, particularly in Tyler, to stay vigilant, especially at night, such as visiting clubs. Being aware of your surroundings is a critical part of staying safe. This reminder aims to promote community safety and prevent potential incidents.

Christian advises parking in well-lit areas at night, traveling in groups, and seeking help if needed, such as moving to populated areas or calling 911.

The most essential tip Christian could offer to anyone is to always be vigilant and observant of what’s happening around you.

“Most of my life, I thought that I was my sister’s protector and that I was saving her,” Ashcraft said. “When she went missing, I realized that my sister was my protector and the person who had been saving me my whole life.”

Several weeks ago, detectives informed Ashcraft that her sister’s case was at a standstill and that there was nothing further they or she could do. After reflecting for a day, the realization dawned that there was indeed action to take.

That prompted the decision to launch the page, recognizing the potential to make a difference.

Ashcraft said local law enforcement in Smith County diligently address cases of missing persons. Despite challenges, they’re committed to thorough investigations. However, additional support is needed to enhance their efforts further.

She advocated for improving coordination between agencies, enhancing training on Missing Persons protocols and increasing communication with affected families and communities, which are crucial steps to address missing persons cases effectively.

Just as fire departments release videos on handling severe thunderstorms, similar initiatives by the police department to educate the public on staying safe at night could raise awareness and mitigate future incidents of individuals going missing in Tyler.

“After a year of grieving, I started to ask myself what my sister would want me to do,” Ashcraft said. “I wanted to live in her honor instead of grief and to try to advocate towards finding more answers for people like her.”

How You Can Help

Share posts on social media about missing people.

Keep the conversation going about resolving missing persons cases.

Be safe and vigilant when you are out alone.

Additionally, if you have any information on any missing persons cases, call the Smith County Sheriff’s Office at 903-566-6600.