Missing Tennessee Woman Found Safe in Columbia

Police locate 85-year-old Joan Allman after Silver Alert issued in neighboring state

Mar. 31, 2026 at 10:20am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a car key fob against a pitch-black background, the harsh flash lighting creating dramatic shadows and textures to conceptually illustrate the investigation that located the missing woman.A car key fob found during the traffic stop that led to the safe return of a missing Tennessee woman.Columbia Today

An 85-year-old woman from Lebanon, Tennessee who was reported missing and the subject of a Silver Alert was found safe during a traffic stop by Columbia police on Friday evening. Joan Allman was transported to a local hospital for evaluation and her family was notified that she had been located.

Why it matters

Silver Alerts are issued by authorities to help locate missing elderly or cognitively impaired individuals who may be in danger. The quick response and coordination between law enforcement agencies across state lines helped ensure Allman's safe return.

The details

Columbia Police say they performed a traffic stop on a vehicle on North Highway 55 around 7:00 PM on Friday evening. The driver was identified as Joan Allman, who had been reported missing earlier that day by authorities in Tennessee. Allman was then transported to TJ Health Columbia to be evaluated, and her family was notified that she had been found safe.

  • A Silver Alert for Joan Allman was issued by Tennessee authorities earlier on Friday, March 31, 2026.
  • Allman was located during a traffic stop by Columbia Police at around 7:00 PM on Friday, March 31, 2026.

The players

Joan Allman

An 85-year-old woman from Lebanon, Tennessee who was reported missing and the subject of a Silver Alert.

Columbia Police

The law enforcement agency that located Allman during a traffic stop and ensured her safe return.

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The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of Silver Alerts and the coordination between law enforcement agencies across state lines to quickly locate and safely return missing elderly or vulnerable individuals.