Melonie Ballenger, the 46-year-old Wylie woman who was last seen on Nov. 3, was located by a resident walking their dog early Friday evening near Abby Lane and Tyler Trail, police said.
Ballenger was “severely dehydrated” when she was found, but otherwise “in good health,” a news release from Wylie police said.
“She was just walking, someone noticed her and asked if she was Melonie,” Sergeant Donald English, a spokesman for the Wylie Police Department, told the Dallas Morning News. “[Melonie] said yes.”
Officers, K9s and helicopters were mobilized this week to assist in the search for Ballenger. On Wednesday night, a Clear Alert advisory was issued saying Ballenger was possibly endangered.
Though Ballenger was found with scrapes on her hands, it was “nothing that signaled foul play,” English said. He said she was “probably just out in the elements.”
Ballenger has been reunited with her family and taken to the hospital for treatment, the release said.
The primary focus is to get Ballenger proper medical care and allow her and her family time to decompress, English said. He said police have plans to continue the investigation into what happened afterward.
“We want to thank everyone who worked day and night trying to find [Ballenger],” the release said. “Please respect the privacy of the family as they reunite with their loved one.”