MUKWONAGO - Missing mother Katie Cruz has been found, but the mystery behind her disappearance hasn't been solved. Police believe she wandered off on her own, and now she could face criminal charges.
After three days of searching, three days of helicopters and search dogs combing the woods, and three days of worrying for family members, Katie Cruz was found on Tuesday night. She called relatives from a café in Glenview, Illinois, according to Town of Mukwonago police.
"The only thing that she told us was, first she said she walked and ran to Illinois, and later she said she did some hitchhiking to get down there," said Town of Mukwonago Police Chief Grant Turner.
Cruz vanished Saturday morning after sending her children, ages 12, 10, and 3, to a nearby park. She told them she would meet up with them later, but she never showed up. She didn't take her car, cell phone, or wallet with her.
"We are going to be looking into charges of child neglect for leaving her children behind," Chief Turner said.
When Cruz was found, she complained of stomach pains and was taken to a hospital to be checked out. Town of Mukwonago police said on Wednesday they are still waiting to interview her.
Before she was found, family members said she may have been stressed out over a divorce and a custody issue with her husband.
The helicopters used in the search were already paid for with a homeland security grant, and the search dogs were from a team of volunteers, police said. However, the Town of Mukwonago Police Department did pay officers for about 10 hours of overtime during the search.
