Missing Whitmore Lake woman found injured in northern Michigan; former boyfriend arrested
A woman missing since a New Year's Day confrontation with the father of her children outside a Green Oak Township restaurant was found injured this morning in northern Michigan, police say.
Courtney Beard was injured and suffering from hypothermia when officers from the Antrim County Sheriff's Department found her at about 5:49 a.m., Green Oak Township police said. She was near a seasonal family residence on Alba Road east of US-131 that was known to Brandon Jay Smith, 23, the father of their two children, police said.
Police were searching for Brandon Smith and Courtney Beard.
Beard was taken from the scene by helicopter for treatment at a hospital in Gaylord, police said.
Her mother, Marion Beard, told Livingston County radio station WHMI 93.5 that Smith cut off an electronic tether he was wearing due to a domestic assault on their daughter in early December.
She told the radio station he kidnapped their daughter at knifepoint and forced her into a car before driving off from the parking lot of the Olive Garden where she worked Friday.
Smith was arrested at the seasonal residence and faces possible charges of kidnapping and assault, police said.
Marion Beard told the radio station the couple's children are staying with them and were never in any danger.
Police credited tips and leads with helping to find Beard and Smith. A statewide bulletin was issued last night, and officers from many departments searched for them.
Green Oak Township police said this morning that no further details are being released.
Comments
BornNRaised
Mon, Jan 4, 2010 : 9:21 a.m.
I'd sure like to know why a violent offender was able to cut off a teather and the victim wasn't notified right away that he's unable to be tracked. As far as I'm concerend, the 'system' hurt this poor girl.
mferg56
Mon, Jan 4, 2010 : 8:19 a.m.
"Thank you!" to the good Samaritan who saw what happened in the parking lot of the restaurant and called the police right away. If they hadn't, this story would likely have had a much more tragic ending.
Justin F. Coffey
Sun, Jan 3, 2010 : 6:15 p.m.
I might be confused here but it was my understanding that you cannot be arrested without be charged with a crime?
Paul the Malcontent
Sun, Jan 3, 2010 : 3:03 a.m.
About 13 hours ago, I posted a mild admonition in response to another comment (also since deleted) that interpreted the facts as stated in the story to propose additional criminal charges that should be levied. Frankly, I don't feel that either the post to which I was responding or my response crossed the line of propriety or warranted removal. Furthermore, I also raised the issue of possible failures in the electronic monitoring system that allowed first the removal of the tether and second the abduction of Ms. Beard to occur, and suggested further investigation of such failures by both the appropriate governmental authorities and AnnArbor.com. No additional comments to this story appeared until mine questioning the status of the comments about 1 hour ago, which I also find odd. Some comment or explanation from "the powers that be" would be appreciated and appropriate.
billy
Sun, Jan 3, 2010 : 2:07 a.m.
All comments that are not sensitive to the opinions of of the majority of ann arbor residents arer censored for the common good.
Paul the Malcontent
Sun, Jan 3, 2010 : 1:56 a.m.
Have comments on this story been restricted or blocked?
billy
Sun, Jan 3, 2010 : 12:04 a.m.
Check out james henderson animal torture if you want the truth about this case and the UN-acountibility of local domestic violence agencies.
Really?
Sat, Jan 2, 2010 : 2:09 p.m.
Aren't those things supposed to send a signal as soon as they're cut off? If they're put on violent offenders as a means to keep the jails clear, shouldn't it be a priority to notify those that they offended when they can't be tracked anymore? Sounds like either the system, or someone failed inside the system.