Missing 1-Year-Old Found Safe, Mother Arrested And To Face Child Neglect Charge

January 17, 2026

A 1-year-old girl that had been missing since December 2, was located safe on Friday in Monroe County, Alabama, while her mother was arrested to await extradition to face charges including child neglect in Florida.

Anastasia Grace Mason was last seen at the Oyo Hotel in the 6900 block of Pensacola Boulevard with her father, 36-year-old Thomas Zachariah Mason, and mother, 30-year-old Jami Makala Owens.

According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to the hotel after Owens was acting strangely in the lobby due to a possible drug overdose, and she was unable to tell deputies which room the child was in.

After a search, deputies were able to locate Anastasia in a room with a different adult male, not Mason, and a quantity of narcotics. The father had joint custody of Anastasia at the time and took her while Owens was transported to the hospital. The sheriff’s office completed a warrant affidavit for Owens, but by the time the warrant was issued she had been released from the hospital. Deputies were then unable to locate Anastasia, Owens or Mason.

After Owens was arrested on Friday in Uriah, Alabama, she was transported to the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton where she was booked on an outstanding Escambia County, Alabama, warrant for bail jumping first-degree. She faces extradition back to Escambia County, Florida, to face the child neglect charge and charge of petty theft.

Anastasia was released to the custody of the Department of Children and Families. Mason was not charged with any crime.

Comments

3 Responses to “Missing 1-Year-Old Found Safe, Mother Arrested And To Face Child Neglect Charge”

  1. Susie on January 19th, 2026 9:38 am

    Seems like a mother with the “gift” of such a beautiful child would not be so selfish but drugs do that. Still no excuse for this girl. How horrible. Bless that baby’s heart and I pray she receives a NEW, loving home that she deserves.

  2. AB on January 17th, 2026 9:56 pm

    Yes, Thank the good lord that this innocent baby was found safe.
    This mother doesn’t deserve to have her back, putting her child in this kind of environment is uncalled for! Praying for Anastasia Grace. And for the mother, grow the hell up and get your act together, cause you obviously need help!

  3. Beulah Boy on January 17th, 2026 12:57 pm

    Thank God the baby was found safe. So many times that is not the case in similar circumstances.





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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News