Press Release

HAMMOND — Around 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, dispatchers at the Lowell Regional Dispatch Center received information on an Amber Alert from Iowa.

A follow-up call was then made to the dispatch center by the Iowa State Patrol, where they informed the dispatcher that they had information that the subject of the Amber Alert may be in the area of the Indiana Welcome Center, located off I-80 at Kennedy Avenue.

Indiana State Police Trooper Adrian Garcia was notified by dispatch that he was very close to the last known location of the individuals. After being told the vehicle description, a dark Chevrolet Cruze, he was able to locate that vehicle leaving a Hampton Inn and pulled the vehicle over.

Positive identification was made on both individuals that had been listed in the Amber Alert. The driver, Jessica R. Williams, 36, Des Moines, Iowa, was promptly taken into custody without incident. A 14-year-old child, Nina Williams, was found safe in the vehicle. Jessica was taken to the Lake County Jail, where she is being held for the Des Moines Police Department, and extradition back to Iowa. Nina was placed into the custody of Child Protective Services until she can be reunited with her custodial guardian.

The Indiana State Police would like to thank the Hammond Police Department, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Des Moines Police Department for their assistance with locating this Amber Alert.