Virginia State Police have activated a CODI Alert after a 12-year-old girl, Sierra Dawn Felts, vanished under circumstances authorities say pose a credible threat to her safety. The alert, which applies across parts of Virginia, was issued following reports that Sierra was last seen in the early hours of Sunday morning in the Galax area of Grayson County. Her disappearance has prompted an urgent response from local and state law enforcement, reflecting growing concern over the conditions surrounding the case and the limited information available about her whereabouts.
Officials are asking the public to remain alert and to report any sightings or relevant details that could help locate the missing child as quickly as possible. Sierra’s case underscores how Virginia’s missing-child response system has evolved to address situations that do not neatly fit the criteria of a traditional abduction but still involve significant risk.
Investigators have emphasized that time is critical, particularly when a child disappears late at night and may be in the company of an unknown adult. The CODI Alert is designed to mobilize community awareness in precisely these kinds of cases, ensuring that crucial details reach as many people as possible while the search is ongoing.
Details of Sierra Dawn Felts’ Disappearance
According to the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, Sierra Dawn Felts was last seen around 1 a.m. Sunday on Savannah Road in Galax, Virginia. At the time, she was wearing a distinctive green jumpsuit decorated with panda designs, a detail investigators hope will help members of the public recognize her if they see her. Sierra is described as white, approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing about 135 pounds, with blond hair and green eyes.
Authorities have stated that Sierra may be travelling with a Hispanic man in an unknown vehicle. The lack of confirmed information about the vehicle or the identity of the man has complicated the search and heightened concern. While police have not publicly described the circumstances that led to Sierra being with this individual, they have made clear that the situation is being treated as potentially dangerous.
Virginia State Police have characterized Sierra’s disappearance as posing “a credible threat” to her health and safety, language that signals serious concern even in the absence of confirmed evidence of abduction. The late-night timing of her last sighting, combined with her age and the possibility that she is with an unfamiliar adult, were key factors in the decision to activate the CODI Alert.
We need more volunteers to join the search for Sierra Dawn Felts at https://t.co/q9aRSJG3Bv. pic.twitter.com/4kQUrkeXQ6
— Deputy Skaggs (@DeputySkaggs) January 4, 2026
Law enforcement agencies involved in the search are urging anyone who may have seen Sierra, or who has information about a child matching her description, to contact the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office immediately at 276-773-3241. Officials have stressed that even seemingly minor details could prove critical, particularly in the early stages of a missing-child investigation when leads are scarce and the window for locating the child safely is narrow.
What a CODI Alert Means and Why It Was Issued
CODI Alert stands for Critical Operation for a Disappeared Child Initiative, a program unique to Virginia’s approach to missing and endangered children. The system was developed to address cases where a child is clearly at risk but does not meet the stricter requirements for a federal AMBER Alert. Unlike AMBER Alerts, which are reserved for confirmed or strongly suspected abductions involving imminent danger, CODI Alerts can be issued when a child’s disappearance involves suspicious circumstances or a credible threat to their safety, even if investigators cannot yet confirm an abductor or specific crime.
The CODI Alert program is named in honor of Codi Bigsby, a Virginia child whose disappearance highlighted gaps in the existing alert framework. In response, state officials created a system that gives law enforcement more flexibility to alert the public when a child is missing and believed to be in danger, but where the available information falls short of AMBER criteria. Under Virginia State Police guidelines, a CODI Alert may be issued for children who are 17 years old or younger, or who are still enrolled in a Virginia secondary school, when their whereabouts are unknown and there is reason to believe their safety is at risk.
To activate a CODI Alert, police must determine that suspicious circumstances exist or that there is a credible risk to the child’s health or safety. They must also have enough descriptive information to share with the public, such as the child’s appearance, clothing, last known location, or possible companions. This information is then disseminated through various channels to encourage real-time tips and sightings from the community.
In Sierra’s case, authorities concluded that the combination of factors met the threshold for a CODI Alert. Her young age, the fact that she was last seen in the early morning hours, and the possibility that she is with an unknown adult all contributed to concerns that she could be in harm’s way. By issuing the alert, police aim to expand awareness beyond the immediate area and increase the chances that someone will recognize Sierra and contact authorities.
CODI Alert vs AMBER Alert and the Role of the Public
For many families, the distinction between a CODI Alert and an AMBER Alert can be confusing, especially since both are intended to help locate missing children. An AMBER Alert is part of a national system that is activated when law enforcement confirms or strongly suspects that a child has been abducted and is in imminent danger of serious harm or death. These alerts are pushed aggressively through television and radio broadcasts, highway message boards, and wireless emergency alerts that appear on mobile phones.
CODI Alerts, while still urgent, are broader in scope and more flexible in application. They do not require confirmation of an abduction and can be used in cases where a child is missing under unusual or suspicious circumstances. This includes situations where a child may have left voluntarily but is believed to be with an unfamiliar adult, or where environmental, medical, or safety risks are present. The goal is to avoid delays in public notification simply because a case does not fit the narrow definition required for an AMBER Alert.
Both systems rely heavily on public involvement. Law enforcement officials consistently emphasize that community awareness can make a decisive difference, particularly in the first hours after a child is reported missing. Members of the public are encouraged to pay attention to descriptions, clothing details, and reported locations, and to report sightings promptly rather than attempting to intervene themselves.
In the case of Sierra Dawn Felts, authorities are asking residents across Virginia to be vigilant and to share the alert information responsibly. Police have cautioned against spreading unverified rumors or speculation on social media, noting that inaccurate information can hinder an investigation and cause unnecessary distress. Instead, they urge anyone with credible information to contact law enforcement directly using the provided phone number.
As the search continues, the CODI Alert serves as both a warning and a call to action. It reflects law enforcement’s assessment that Sierra’s situation is serious and that broad public awareness is essential. While investigators work to develop leads and determine exactly what happened in the hours leading up to her disappearance, the cooperation of the public remains a critical component in efforts to locate Sierra and ensure her safe return.