Tragedy in Lanett after overnight search for missing woman leads to death investigation
The Lanett community is reeling after an overnight search for a missing woman led to a death investigation.
The search began around 11:20 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, after a family member reported their loved one, Teresa Finley, missing. Family members told law enforcement Finley was last seen at her residence in the Crystal Springs community earlier in the night and was known to have impaired cognitive abilities.
When initial search efforts were unsuccessful, additional resources were requested. The search operation expanded and included aviation support from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, drone teams from the Lee County Emergency Management Agency, and assistance from the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office, the Valley Police Department, and members of the Lanett Police Department.
As the search continued, a Lanett police investigator found Finley in an obscure area behind Lanett Junior High School at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.
The investigation conducted by the Lanett Police Department and the Chambers County Coroner’s Office indicates Finley became disoriented and succumbed to the dangerously cold overnight conditions.
“Preliminary information suggests exposure as a contributing factor,” police said. The circumstances surrounding her death remain under investigation.
Our thoughts and prayers remain with Ms. Finley’s family and the first responders, dispatchers and investigators who responded.
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