Little Girl Taken in Kennewick: AMBER Alert Issued

What Happened?

Imagine a special emergency shout-out called an AMBER Alert. It’s like a giant loud speaker the police use when a child is taken and might be in danger. The Washington State Patrol sent one of these alerts because a 4-year-old girl was taken against her will on Saturday morning in a place called Kennewick, Washington.

Who Is Involved?

• The child: Grace Susmilch, age 4
• The person police say took her: Matthew Susmilch, age 41
• Where it happened: South Conway Place area in Kennewick
• When it happened: About 10:45 a.m. on Saturday
• Who sent the alert: Kennewick Police Department asked the Washington State Patrol to send it

Important: Police say Grace’s disappearance is a credible threat to her health and safety. That’s a simple way of saying they believe she could really be hurt, so everyone needs to help look.

What Do They Look Like?

Here are the easy-to-spot details:

Grace Susmilch (the little girl)

• Height: 3 feet 4 inches (about as tall as a kindergarten shelf)
• Weight: 40 pounds
• Hair: Blonde
• Eyes: Blue
• Last seen wearing: White elastic shorts

Matthew Susmilch (the suspect)

• Height: 5 feet 9 inches
• Weight: 209 pounds
• Hair: Brown
• Eyes: Brown
• Tattoos: On his neck, both arms, chest, back, and both legs
• Clothes: Unknown (police don’t know what he’s wearing)

What About the Car?

Police say they do not know what kind of vehicle Matthew is using. So we can’t look for a specific car—just the people!

What Should You Do If You See Them?

If you spot Grace or Matthew, here is what to do:

1. Stay safe and don’t approach them.
2. Call 911 right away.
3. Tell the operator where you are and what you see.

How Are Police Handling This?

• The Kennewick Police Department is investigating.
• Their case number is KPD26-048999 (just a label so they can find the file).
• If you have a non-emergency tip, call 509-628-0333.

Remember: Only call 911 for immediate sightings. Use the non-emergency number for other info.

Summary

A 4-year-old girl named Grace Susmilch was taken by 41-year-old Matthew Susmilch in Kennewick on Saturday morning. An AMBER Alert is active because she may be in danger. Grace is small, blonde, blue-eyed, and wore white shorts. Matthew has many tattoos and unknown clothes. No car is known. If you see them, call 911. Case number: KPD26-048999.

FAQ

What is an AMBER Alert?
It’s an emergency message sent by police when a child is taken and might be in danger, so the public can help find them fast.

Why did police issue this alert?
Because they believe Grace’s disappearance is a real threat to her health and safety.

What if I think I saw the suspect’s car but not the people?
Since police don’t know the vehicle, call the non-emergency number 509-628-0333 and share what you saw.

Can I call 911 if I just have a guess about where they are?
Only call 911 if you actually see Grace or Matthew. For tips or guesses, use the non-emergency line.