The week-long search for a desperately missing Milwaukee woman is over. Laquita Ward's family told WISN 12 News she was found safe in Florida. Her family reported her missing two weeks ago. The 36-year-old will be on her way back to Milwaukee on Thursday evening. Andrea Adkins was able to talk to her daughter on the phone for the first time in weeks this afternoon. “How was that for you?” WISN 12 News reporter Kendall Keys asked. “A huge relief, a sigh of relief for every mother – every mother. Just a big relief, you know, because this story could have ended in a lot of different ways. So we're just grateful. “We are grateful,” Adkins said. On Thursday evening, loved ones came to Adkins' house, hugged each other and breathed a sigh of relief. The family reported Ward missing on September 11th. Police said she was spotted at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport that day. On September 15, an officer in Florida found her sleeping at a Fort Lauderdale airport, but did not know she was a missing person. On September 22, Milwaukee police upgraded her status to “critically missing” when the public was informed of her disappearance. Ward has Turner syndrome. It is a chromosomal disorder in which a woman is born with only one X chromosome. It has a unique impact on each woman who is affected by it. Ward's family said Turner syndrome significantly affects her cognitive abilities, leaving her incredibly vulnerable alone. They compared their thought processes to those of a teenager rather than an adult. Adkins was overjoyed that her daughter was still doing well many days later. “We’re just grateful, grateful, grateful for everyone. We're grateful for all of Channel 12's support. We're grateful for Detective Sromalla and all the work, the tireless work she did on this case, everything.” “That was an integral part of Laquita's journey home,” Adkins said. Adkins said law enforcement would make sure Ward came home. “She will be escorted to the airport by the detectives there. We'll get her a one-way ticket so we don't have to worry about her getting lost again,” Adkins said. “We'll be waiting for her here in Milwaukee when she gets home.” The Turner Syndrome -Society of the United States reached out to WISN 12 News after seeing our stories about Ward's disappearance. After learning she was safe, the organization contacted Ward's family and bought her a plane ticket home . “We are so relieved,” said Becky Brown, the organization's national director of development and communications. Milwaukee police have not answered WISN 12 News' questions about why it took 11 days to list Ward as critically missing .
MILWAUKEE-
The week-long search for a desperately missing Milwaukee woman is over.
Laquita Ward's family told WISN 12 News she was found safe in Florida. Her family reported her missing two weeks ago. The 36-year-old will be on her way back to Milwaukee on Thursday evening.
Andrea Adkins was able to talk to her daughter on the phone for the first time in weeks this afternoon.
“How was that for you?” WISN 12 News reporter Kendall Keys asked.
“A huge relief, a sigh of relief for every mother – every mother. Just a big relief, you know, because this story could have ended in a lot of different ways. So we're just grateful. “We are grateful,” Adkins said.
On Thursday evening, loved ones arrived at Adkins' house, hugged each other and breathed a sigh of relief.
The family reported Ward missing on September 11th. Police said she was spotted at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport that day.
On September 15, an officer in Florida found her sleeping at a Fort Lauderdale airport, but did not know she was a missing person.
On September 22, Milwaukee police upgraded her status to “critically missing” when the public was informed of her disappearance.
Ward has Turner syndrome. It is a chromosomal disorder in which a woman is born with only one X chromosome. It has a unique effect on each woman who is affected by it.
Ward's family said Turner syndrome significantly affects her cognitive abilities, leaving her incredibly vulnerable alone. They compared their thought processes to those of a teenager rather than an adult.
Adkins was overjoyed that her daughter was still doing well many days later.
“We’re just grateful, grateful, grateful for everyone. We are grateful for all of Channel 12's support. We're grateful for Detective Sromalla and all the work, the tireless work she did on this case, everything.” “That was an integral part of Laquita's journey home,” Adkins said.
Adkins said law enforcement would make sure Ward comes home.
“She will be accompanied to the airport by the investigators there. We’re getting her a one-way ticket so we don’t have to worry about her getting lost again,” Adkins said. “We’ll be waiting for her here in Milwaukee when she gets home.”
The Turner Syndrome Society of the United States reached out to WISN 12 News after seeing our stories about Ward's disappearance. After learning she was safe, the organization contacted Ward's family and bought her a plane ticket home.
“We are so relieved,” said Becky Brown, the organization’s national director of development and communications.
Milwaukee police have not answered WISN 12 News' questions about why it took 11 days for Ward to be listed as critically missing.
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