BARRY COUNTY, MI -- Sheriff's authorities did not find any sign of a Barry County woman when they were dispatched Wednesday night to a Little Long Lake Drive home for a missing person's report.

That's because she was still in court lock-up, six hours after appearing before a probate court judge for a child support issue. Placed in lock-up just as a shift-change happened, it appears a message that Tara Mathis needed to be transported back to the Barry County Jail was not passed along, authorities say.

Mathis advised a judge Oct. 15 that she had no money to pay a $246 arrearage in a child support case. She was then told she would need to serve 24 days in the Barry County Jail.

A court deputy placed her in the holding area awaiting transport to the jail, but that deputy was then relieved of his duties by another deputy. The courthouse emptied at the end of the business day and Mathis remained alone inside.

A sheriff's deputy was dispatched to Little Long Lake Drive around 8:21 p.m. for a missing person report regarding Mathis.

The deputy and a Hastings Police officer then went to the courthouse and found Mathis in the holding area while searching the building. She was booked into the jail and posted bond the same night, police say.

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