RIPON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Ripon Police Department is confirming that 15-year old Cassandra Garza has been found. The FBI located Garza at a Goodwill store in Tucson, Arizona on Tuesday morning, and is now working to get her back to Wisconsin safely.
“It wasn’t tears of sadness this time, it was tears of joy that she was actually found alive,” Jennifer Lybert, Cassandra “Cassie” Garza’s mom said.
Lybert has feared the worst since her daughter disappeared last week.
“You end up terrified, you end up scared, you cry yourself to sleep, you cry nonstop,” Lybert said. “Somebody asks you how you’re doing; they want to hug you because they support you, you cry because how are you supposed to feel?”
The weight was lifted Tuesday afternoon when Cassie Garza was found safe in Arizona.
“It’s a sigh of relief, compared to all the other thoughts and stuff going on in my head, at that time,” said Lybert.
She credits her son and Cassie’s brother Michael Garza for getting her through this rough time.
“I’ve just learned to overcome it, and put my faith in other people because other people will help guide you through things and learned to listen to other people; they’ll help you through things,” Michael Garza said.
Police believe Cassie went to Arizona with 21-year-old Talin Ross.
Capt. Troy Dagsteegt/Ripon Police Department: “Cassandra’s mom reported her as a runaway on Oct. 30,” Capt. Troy Dagsteet of the Ripon Police Department said. “Initially, it was just reported as a juvenile runaway, and so we entered her as a runaway into the national system.”
“I was told by police that really they couldn’t put out an Amber alert because she willingly went with him,” Lybert said. “It didn’t matter that there was already a pending investigation against Talin, it’s like they didn’t care.”
Ross faces a child sex assault charge in Green Lake County.
“When we received information that Talin had this outstanding warrant from Green Lake County, then we broadcast it as missing and endangered,” Dagsteegt explained.
Lybert says Cassie met Talin in the spring at a local hangout for teens. That’s when she began to notice a change in her daughter.
“I personally believe that he did some brainwashing against her,” said Lybert. “I hope he gets everything he has coming to him.”
Ross was arrested in Phoenix on Tuesday morning.
Cassie was later found safe, about a hundred miles away in Tucson.
“I love her, and I want to know that she’s safe,” Lybert said. “I want to physically see her and know, and touch her. At least I’ll know with my own eyes that it is her.”
“It’s been hard not having her around,” said Cassie’s brother. “Yeah, she may get on my nerves a lot but she’s still my sister; I still love her.”
