Search is on for missing pregnant Texas woman

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas –  Melissa Sowders, a 26-year-old pregnant Texas woman, has been missing since Christmas Day when she was supposed to go meet her ex-husband and their youngest daughter at a McDonald’s in northern Harris County, reports CBS affiliate KHOU.

Officials say Sowders was last seen by her current boyfriend, Jason Sandford, around 6:15 a.m. Dec. 26. Sowders reportedly dropped Sandford off at work in their white Honda Accord, which deputies found Dec. 27 on Interstate 45.

Sandford reportedly told authorities Sowders was supposed to go meet her ex-husband and their youngest daughter at McDonald’s the day she disappeared.

“She told me okay, I’m here. He’s here, I’m going to get off the phone. Every time she had to meet with him to see her baby, she was always worried about it. He scares her,” said Sandford, according to the station.

Detectives have said Sowders’ ex-husband has been questioned in connection with the investigation but they have not named him a suspect in her disappearance.

Texas Equusearch has been searching the area near where the missing mother’s car was found. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office has also brought in their dive team to search the area.

Sowders’ family members have said they don’t expect to find her alive, according to the station.

Anyone with information regarding Sowders’ disappearance is asked to contact the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit at (713) 967-5810.