April 11, 2019 500 AM
MARFA – Marfa Police Chief Estevan Marquez on Sunday announced the safe recovery of Zorayma Lackey and her 4-year old daughter, Lena Lackey, after being missing for a week, according to a department news release.
At about 11:38am Sunday, 911 Dispatch operators received a phone call from an individual about 40 miles south of the Mar-fa. The caller stated that he had come across two lost females on the property.
The Marfa Police Department, Presidio County Sheriff’s Office along with Marfa Emergency Medical Services responded to the call. The two were later identified as the pair missing since March 31.
“I’m just glad that I found them,” said San Jacinto Ranch foreman Sam Miranda.
Marquez said Zorayma and Lena are in good health condition despite being dehydrated and exhausted from their ordeal. They have been reunited with their family but were initially transported to Big Bend Regional Medical Center in Alpine for observation.
Marquez drove the ambulance to Alpine to allow Marfa Paramedic Jessie Peña and fellow EMT Chase Bruttomesso to give their full attention to their patients.
By late last week the FBI entered the search, sending up to 25 agents from El Paso, Midland, and one agent from Alpine to the area, Marquez said.
“We never think something like this will happen in our tight knit community,” Marquez said. “I want to express my sincerest gratitude to all the citizens of Marfa and Presidio that called in and provided information that lead to the safe recovery of Zorayma and Lena. I also would like to thank the numerous law enforcement agencies that sent personnel and resources to Mar-fa that assisted our Police Department in a happy resolution to this case.”
The Marfa Police Department worked closely with the Federal Bureau of Investigation-El Paso Division, Presidio County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (including CBP Air and Marine), U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, Brewster County Sheriff Office, Midland County Sheriff’s Office, Midland County District Attorney’s Office, Reeves County Sheriff’s Office, Odessa Police Department, Ector County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. National Park Service-Big Bend National Park.