Authorities: Risco woman remains missing

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- The Southeast Missouri Major Case Squad, Missouri State Highway Patrol, New Madrid County Sheriff's Department and local authorities are continuing the investigation of a Risco woman missing since Wednesday morning.

According to New Madrid County Sheriff Terry Stevens, Teresa Lynn Butler, 35, was found to be missing from her home near Risco, Mo., around 10 a.m. Wednesday, when her husband, Dale Butler, returned from work at a steel mill in Blytheville, Ark.

Stevens said Butler arrived home to find his two young children, ages 2 and 4, alone in the family home on County Road 241, also known as Eight Ditch Road, just off Highway 62 on the outskirts of Risco. The youngest child was awake and in his bed, while the older child was still sleeping, Stevens continued.

Teresa Butler is described as five feet, seven inches in height, weighing approximately 109 pounds, with brown eyes and hair.