Who says TV is no good? A&E’s “Live PD” just helped find a missing nine-year-old girl when an eagle-eyed viewer called in with a tip. Mariah Martinez, who had been missing for more than a year, was recovered safely on Monday.
Martinez, who is from Lubbock, Texas, was reported missing on Oct. 21, 2016. She was found at a residence in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
“Live PD” has been working with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) since last October, pointing viewers to pressing cases. Martinez’s story was featured during the live show last Friday, March 23, and the following day a viewer called the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children tip line with possible information about the child’s location.
NCMEC provided the information to the Lubbock Police Department and the New Mexico State Police for follow-up investigation, resulting in the successful recovery of Martinez, who is now in the protective custody of child services.
Watch last week’s segment via the video above.
Hosted by Dan Abrams and featuring analysis by Tom Morris Jr., “Live PD” showcases the policing of America, following diverse police departments from across the country in real time as they patrol their communities, per its official series description. Using dash cams along with fixed rig and handheld cameras, “Live PD” captures the work of a varied mix of urban and rural police forces on a typical Friday and Saturday night.
And sometimes it catches a motorcycle on the run from the cops hitting and flipping over a Honda Civic.
The series is produced for A&E by Big Fish Entertainment. Executive producers for Big Fish Entertainment are Dan Cesareo, George McTeague, Kara Kurcz and John Zito. Executive producers for A&E Network are Elaine Frontain Bryant, Shelly Tatro and Sean Gottlieb. A+E Networks holds worldwide distribution rights for “Live PD.”
“Live PD” airs on Friday and Saturday nights from 9 p.m.-Midnight ET/PT on A&E.