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Children found safe, woman in custody after Amber Alert issued in Mid-Missouri

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December 18, 2025 10:15 PM
Published 4:29 PM

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A woman is in custody after a search was conducted by law enforcement after they issued an Amber Alert on Thursday afternoon.

The alert was canceled at 4:42 p.m. Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop A spokesman Justin Ewing said troopers stopped the blue 2005 Lincoln Aviator and detained the woman. MSHP also confirmed in a followup alert that the children were found safe.

A social media post from MSHP says 24-year-old Joy Ariel Smith was with the children when they were found.

MSHP originally sent the Amber Alert at 4:18 p.m., looking for a Lincoln Aviator that was heading westbound on Interstate 70. The notification was sent out in the jurisdictions of MHSP’s Troop F – which covers much of Mid-Missouri – and Troop A, whose coverage area is in the western part of the state.

In Missouri, an Amber Alert is activated when the following happens:

  • Law enforcement officials have a reasonable belief that an abduction has occurred, which meets the definition in RSMo. 565.110 or 565.115.
  • Law enforcement officials believe there is a credible threat of serious bodily injury or death.
  • Enough descriptive information exists about the victim and the abductor for law enforcement to issue an AMBER Alert.
  • The victim of the abduction is a child age 17 years or younger.
  • The child's name and other critical data elements - including the child abduction (CA) flag - have been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) system.

According to online court records, Smith was charged with fourth-degree assault in November. She posted bond on Dec. 10. A probable cause statement says a victim told police that Smith's biological son was placed with their mother by Children's Division and that Smith did not have custody of the child.

Court documents claim someone tried to take the child back after it was placed in the car with Smith, which led to Smith allegedly shutting the door on the person and punching them. Smith told police that she did not touch the victim, court documents say.

According to data from the Missouri Department of Public Safety, from Dec. 1, 2024, through Nov. 30, 2025, Missouri issued a total of eight AMBER Alerts for 11 children. All 11 children were found safe.

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Ryan Shiner

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