Ragina Garrison, the 49-year-old Perryville Road woman missing since Tuesday, was arrested by state police the day before her disappearance because of a reported domestic dispute with her 22-year-old daughter.
According to state police, troopers responded to the incident on Monday, Oct. 5, which was due to Garrison breaking into her daughter’s locked bedroom in the house the two shared and apparently taking some items from the room. Garrison was arrested and charged with criminal trespass in the third degree, criminal mischief in the fourth degree and harassment in the second degree, according to police records.
She was arraigned by Justice Patrick O’Sullivan in Cazenovia court and released on her own recognizance. O’Sullivan also issued an order of protection against Garrison to stay away from her daughter, said State Police Public Information Officer Trooper Jack Keller.
Garrison is scheduled to appear in Fenner town court at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, to answer the charges, Keller said.
Garrison was reported missing Tuesday, Oct. 6, after which law enforcement and emergency response personnel from three counties and three state agencies undertook a search for her in the wooded areas around Perryville Road. They searched until 11 p.m. Tuesday night and all day Wednesday without result.
Keller said the state police “don’t know” if Garrison’s arrest has anything to do with her disappearance the next day, but they are assisting the Madison County Sheriff’s Office with the investigation.
Madison County Undersheriff John Ball said he “cannot provide opinions” as to whether or not Garrison’s arrest is connected to her disappearance. He did say that after two days, the ground search for Garrison has concluded.
“Investigators are actively working this case at this time, very much an active investigation.”
In an interview with CNY Central television news, Garrison’s daughter, Olivia Bailey, said the last time she saw her mother was at 9 a.m. Monday morning, Oct. 5, and that they had “been having some difficulties at home and she has some mental health issues.” Bailey said police had been to their house twice related to those difficulties.
Bailey said her mother called a friend and told her she “was going far into the woods and was going to kill herself.” Bailey also said her mother had left all her personal possessions at home and there were 60 antidepressant pills missing from an empty bottle.
“If my mom is seeing this, no matter what’s happened, she can always come home. All I’m concerned about is her safety and her well being,” Bailey said.
Garrison was last seen wearing blue jeans and a long-sleeved pink or salmon color shirt. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the Madison County Sheriff’s Office at 366-2311.
