HOUSTON – A Houston family is desperate for answers after 14-year-old Debra, who goes by Dawn, vanished from her home last week.
Her guardians say they tried everything to keep her safe online—setting screen time limits, having safety conversations, and using parental controls. But none of it stopped her from connecting with someone they believe she met in secret.
“She told her friend they were supposed to meet up this summer. That’s how we found out. She never told us,” said Jessica Wall, her guardian.
Wall says Dawn left behind a note saying she’d be back the next evening. She never returned.
The hidden tablet
Jessica says the teen’s school-issued tablet became the unexpected gateway. “She did leave her phone at the house, but she had a tablet I didn’t know about. That’s where she was communicating,” she said.
It wasn’t until later that a friend came forward and told the family about messages between Dawn and an older man she met online.
“We thought we had it under control,” said Tara Harvey, Dawn’s aunt. “But obviously she wanted to explore the internet. When they’re kids, they’re gonna find a way—no matter how hard you try to protect them.”
ALSO READ: How parents can protect teens from online predators
Heartbreaking discovery
Jessica recalled the moment she realized Dawn was gone. “I go to her room, and she had a bunch of stuffed animals. It looked like she was there. But when I started moving the covers, it was just the stuffed animals.”
She and her sister have been posting on social media, searching nearby areas, and speaking to media in hopes of finding the teen—or warning others before it happens again.
Investigation remains active
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office tells KPRC 2 the case is still open and active. While detectives cannot confirm whether Dawn left with an adult, they are pursuing leads.
‘We have to talk to our kids’: Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force weighs in
Constable Alan Rosen, whose agency works with the Houston Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, says his team is actively investigating online exploitation cases.
“We have full-time investigators whose only job is to protect children online,” Rosen said. “They’re on the internet every day, catching predators from all walks of life.”
Rosen says grooming often happens slowly—and it’s why parents must be vigilant.
“There are predators out there all day, every day, looking for kids who are alone, who feel disconnected from family, and who are vulnerable,” he said. “They’re patient. They’ll wait six months or more to build trust.”
He says his advice to parents starts with communication: “Talk to your kids. Look at who they’re talking to. Ask questions. If you see a name you don’t know, ask about it.”
When asked what he’d say if the child were his own, Rosen responded: “I’d pull up real-life cases of predators meeting kids online and show them. Not just warnings—actual stories. I’d say, ‘This can happen to you.’ Because it can.”
Tips for parents from ICAC investigators:
- Check every device: Rosen says parents should know about all devices—especially school-issued tablets. “If a school gives your child a device, they should notify you. And you should put monitors on it.”
- Use your authority: “If I’m paying for the phone, it’s my rules,” Rosen said. “That means I look through it. I install software that lets me see who they’re talking to.”
- Watch for red flags: He says predators target kids who are isolated, have low self-esteem, or face struggles at home. “If your child’s withdrawn, being bullied, or spending too much time alone on the internet, that’s a warning sign.”
- Shut it down at night: “Don’t let them sit in their room at 10 p.m. surfing the web,” he said. “Turn off the Wi-Fi. Be involved.”
- Real cases, not just advice: “Show your kids real stories,” he said. “When they see what actually happens to other children, it becomes real.”
Rosen said his office is confident law enforcement will find Dawn. “We’re prayerful that she’s okay and will be reunited with her family.”
‘She has a family that loves her’
Tara Harvey hopes Dawn will hear this message: “I want to tell her to come home. I know life hasn’t always been perfect. Sometimes it’s been rough. But she does have a family that loves her.”
With the family’s permission, KPRC 2 is sharing Dawn’s photo in hopes someone might recognize her. Her guardians say they will not stop searching.
If you have any information about Dawn’s whereabouts, contact the Harris County Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS.
