CALVERT, Texas — The search for Legend Mourning continues. Authorities tell KAGS News the accused suspect, Mourning's biological mother, Johnell Hickman, turned herself into the Houston County Sheriff’s Office. She was then later bailed out of jail before authorities could get to Mourning.
Officials said the 6-year-old has not been seen or heard from since July 9th.
According to Amber Alert Network Brazos Valley Executive Director Chuck Fleeger, Mourning doesn’t qualify for an AMBER Alert regionally or statewide because an AMBER Alert is for abducted children.
"If you have an incident involving a non-custodial parent, there is a requirement that during the commission of taking that child that there be an act of murder or an attempt of murder committed and that was not the case,” Fleeger said. “We’ve called an Endangered Missing Child Advisory, in this case, it was that the child has been reported missing and law enforcement felt that due to the circumstances that the child was in danger of death or serious bodily injury."
Fleeger said Hickman has been out of Mourning's life for much of it. She is not to have contact with Mourning.
"There had been a warrant issued for her arrest for interference with child custody," said Fleeger.
Hickman's mother, Althea Williams, has custody of Mourning. As the caretaker of her grandchild, she pleaded for his safe return.
"I just would like to get him safely returned back home and that we miss him and I’m sure he misses us too. He's been with us all of his life," said Williams.
Hickman was last seen in Houston. Houston authorities are now assisting the Calvert Police Department in this case.
"It's a parent who has the child, so what is the risk?" Fleeger said. "Well, unfortunately, as time has shown, sometimes parents do things to harm their children."
If you have any information on where Mourning or Hickman are, please call the Calvert Police Department at 979-364-2223.