safety
Father arrested after missing Big Spring teen found safe following Amber Alert
By Tamlyn Price at CBS7 / KOSA-TV News (firstalert7.com)
· June 25, 2026
· 1 min read
BIG SPRING, Texas (KOSA) - A father has been arrested after his 14-year-old daughter, who was the subject of a statewide Amber Alert, was found safe.According to Big Spring Police Department, 48-year-old Steven D’Wayne Rich was taken into custody and faces a charge of interference with child cust...
Key takeaway Authorities launched an Amber Alert earlier this week after Audrey Rich, 14, was reported missing.
Why this matters in The Odessa
The safe recovery of 14-year-old Audrey Rich is a welcome relief for the community, and the arrest of her father, Steven D'Wayne Rich, brings a measure of closure to the case. The fact that multiple law enforcement agencies across Texas were involved in the search underscores the coordination and cooperation that exists among local and state authorities in the Permian Basin area. As the investigation continues, residents of Ector County and surrounding areas will be watching to see how the case against Rich proceeds. The charge of interference with child custody is a serious one, and its outcome will have implications for the community's understanding of how such cases are handled. Additionally, the successful issuance and resolution of the Amber Alert demonstrates the effectiveness of this system in the region, which is critical for protecting vulnerable populations, particularly children.
About this story
Original reporting by CBS7 / KOSA-TV News (firstalert7.com) . The Odessa surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit CBS7 / KOSA-TV News (firstalert7.com) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: June 25, 2026 ·
Source: CBS7 / KOSA-TV News (firstalert7.com) ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? BIG SPRING, Texas (KOSA) - A father has been arrested after his 14-year-old daughter, who was the subject of a statewide Amber Alert, was found safe.According to Big Spring Police Department, 48-year-old Steven D’Wayne Rich was taken into custody and faces a charge of interference with child cust...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 25, 2026 by CBS7 / KOSA-TV News (firstalert7.com) and curated for The Odessa readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Tamlyn Price at CBS7 / KOSA-TV News (firstalert7.com). To learn more about how The Odessa selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Odessa, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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