Missing Gwinnett children found safe in Henry County

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Two Gwinnett County children reported to be in grave danger Wednesday afternoon were found safe in Henry County.

Investigators issued a Levi's Call for Lily Keller, 9, and Trinity Keller, 11, who were believed to have been taken by their mother, Frances Owens, 39. The call has now been canceled.

Gwinnett police told Channel 2's Tony Thomas that "alarm bells have gone off on mother's behavior," prompting concerns.

Officers say Owens, who is the custodial parent of the girls, had been making statements over the last few days about the Earth coming to an end.

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“It was very cryptic, very odd,” neighbor Natalia Delacruz told Channel 2’s Carl Willis.

Delacruz says she received text messages this week that read in part, “Sorry for bringing this upon you all.”

“I was very confused. I even texted her back like, ‘What are you talking about?’” she said.

Wednesday morning, police say Owens shaved her head and set her residence in Dacula on fire before picking her children up from school. School officials say she made strange statements to them.

"We believe her intentions may have been to leave the state; however, we have not been able to confirm that or figure out where she was going with the children or what the end game was for her,” Cpl. C.J. Flynn said.

They were found safe hours later in Henry County.

Owens was arrested and is charged with arson in the first degree.

The children will be turned over to their father, who also lives at the home in Dacula.

Cox Media Group