Family can’t find woman accidentally released from jail

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)- Often when we hear about someone being mistakenly released from jail, we worry about our safety, but this time it’s the woman who was accidentally released, people are worried about.

“Somebody had to have seen her,” Linda Maurer said.

She says she hasn’t heard from her daughter, Natalie, in about two weeks, not since after she was accidentally released from the Fayette County Jail.

“It was dark. She has no phone. She has no money. She has no family here,” Maurer said.

She says her daughter was supposed to be held at the jail for her own safety until there was room for her at a drug treatment center.

According to the jail, it received a court order to release her. Then 45 minutes later came an order to hold her, but by then she was already gone.

“This is the place that was supposed to keep her safe, and now she’s not right now,” Maurer said.

Some family members are putting up signs in highly trafficked spots.

“Somebody’s seen her. Somebody’s had contact with her. Somebody may have given her a ride somewhere,” Maurer said.

She says her daughter suffers from mental health and addiction problems. She’s done her time for drug charges and shoplifting.

Now, her mom says she just needs help.

The family is offering a reward for information that leads to Natalie.

There are two phone numbers you can call with that information. You can reach the family at (513) 508-7884 or Lexington Police at 859-258-3600