Mystery of mum who vanished hours before Hurricane Harvey hit as police suspect foul play

Police investigating the disappearance of a mom who vanished just hours before Hurricane Harvey struck Texas suspect foul play was involved. Crystal McDowell has not been seen since she left her boyfriend's house in Houston on the morning of Friday August 25. The 38-year-old was heading to pick her two children up from her ex-husband's home 18 miles away but never made it. The estate agent also missed a scheduled meeting with a client on Friday afternoon. Ms McDowell was reported missing last Saturday by her uncle, Jeff Walters. Police have now confirmed that they are treating the disappearance as suspicious.

The mum's car was found at a motel car park between the homes of her boyfriend and ex-husband after a member of the public who recognised the licence plate alerted police. Mr Walters told CBS News that he had contacted his niece's ex-husband, Steve McDowell, who showed him a message Crystal had texted him saying she was taking the children to Dallas. He told CBS that he had "reservations about believing that she sent that message" as he too was heading to Dallas and said she would have mentioned if she was also planning to go. The last person to contact Ms McDowell was her boyfriend, Paul Hargrave, who told police they exchanged text messages at 8.30am on Friday - shortly before Hurricane Harvey hit later that night. CCTV shows the missing woman leaving Mr Hargrave's home carrying two black bags. Police confirmed that a black briefcase containing real estate documents had been found next to a computer at ex-husband Mr McDowell's home.

Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne told reporters: "I think that there was probably some animosity between boyfriend and the husband.

"The husband might think that the boyfriend had something to do with it. The boyfriend might think that husband has something to do with it. Which is exactly what we are faced with right now." He added: "There was a black bag found next to the computer at her ex-husband's house. That is correct. It had real estate documents and items, it was a black briefcase, it was not like a coach clothing bag. It was not something a woman would use as an overnight bag. "As the Sheriff I will tell you personally think there is some wrong doing in this. I think there is a suspicious nature. I don't think she has left on her own. I think there has been foul play at this point."

By Natalie Evans Mirror