AMBER Alert canceled, suspect in custody following child abduction near Columbia
The Missouri State Highway Patrol canceled an AMBER Alert Thursday after a suspect was taken into custody, according to a post from the agency on X, formerly Twitter.
The AMBER Alert was canceled around 4:45 p.m. Thursday after Joy Smith, 24, was taken into custody, according to the post. The children involved in the alert are reportedly safe.
The alleged child abduction occurred Thursday near Columbia, Missouri, according to a post from the agency on X. Residents living in MSHP troop areas F and A, which includes Kansas City, were alerted as Smith was last believed to be driving westbound on Missouri Interstate 70.
This story was originally published December 18, 2025 at 4:46 PM.
Caroline Zimmerman
The Kansas City Star