The Eyrie

DALLAS, TX — A 13-year-old Dallas girl with intellectual disabilities has been found safe after being missing for more than a week, according to Dallas police. Natalie Armstrong had been reported missing after leaving her Lake Highlands home on October 21.

The Texas Department of Public Safety has since discontinued its Endangered Missing Person Alert for her. Police did not say where she was found.

Armstrong had been considered an endangered missing person in need of assistance because of her developmental disabilities. Her mother said Armstrong left home after becoming upset about upcoming school evaluations.

How the search began after Armstrong left Lake Highlands

Authorities said Armstrong disappeared after leaving home in the Lake Highlands area of Dallas. Her family and police had been searching for her since October 21, when she was last known to be in the neighborhood.

FOX 4 reported that she was seen later that same night at the SMU/Mockingbird DART station. Another person believed to be a minor was seen with her there, adding another clue for investigators following the timeline of her disappearance.

Because of her age and disabilities, Armstrong was treated as someone who needed urgent help. That classification helped trigger the broader alert and attention from law enforcement as the search continued through the week.

Police and state officials say the alert is over

Dallas police confirmed Armstrong had been found safe, ending the active search effort. The Texas Department of Public Safety also pulled back the Endangered Missing Person Alert that had been issued for her.

That alert is used in cases where a missing person is believed to be at risk and needs quick intervention. In Armstrong’s case, officials had said she was vulnerable because of her developmental disabilities and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.

With the alert canceled, police no longer considered the case an active missing-person emergency. Officials have not released any details about the circumstances of her recovery.

A mother's fear during the days her daughter was gone

Armstrong’s mother, Megan Bernhardt, described the emotional toll of waiting for news. She told FOX 4 that the family wanted nothing more than to have their daughter back home safely in bed.

Bernhardt said even thinking about a worst-case outcome was overwhelming. She described the possibility of not getting that moment again as painful, and said she had to stop herself from dwelling on it.

Her comments reflected the uncertainty families often face during a missing-child case, especially when the child has special needs or may have trouble asking for help. The weeklong search kept attention focused on bringing Armstrong home alive and safe.

What investigators have not said yet about where she was found

Police have not said where Armstrong was located or how she was recovered. They also have not released details about whether anyone else was involved or whether she had been in contact with family during the time she was missing.

That leaves some questions unanswered, even as the most urgent part of the case has been resolved. For now, the key facts are that she was found safe and the state alert has been discontinued.

Officials have not announced any additional steps in the case. The circumstances of her disappearance and recovery remain under review by police.

Why this case drew attention across Dallas

Armstrong’s disappearance drew concern because of her young age, her developmental disabilities and the length of time she was missing. Those factors made her especially vulnerable and increased the urgency of the search.

Cases like this often move quickly through local law enforcement and state alert systems when a child is believed to be endangered. In this instance, police and state officials worked with the family’s information to track the timeline and share what was known publicly.

Now that Armstrong has been found safe, the focus shifts to her recovery and her return home. The case also serves as a reminder of how quickly missing-child investigations can become urgent when a vulnerable young person disappears.