Fort Pierce Rally Stop

It was definitely a bright sunny warm Florida day, being a native... this is what you miss most about Florida. On time we arrive to a beautiful scenery of sculptures, waterway and several families present to represent their missing loved ones. I think it is sad as most faces are familiar to me. My emotions are in a place today I really do not like them to be; normally when I am feeling down and sorrow for our families, I get off by myself somewhere and folks never are the wiser. I am really good about that, not showing that side of me. But today I know I will see Donajean, Tony and so many more of the cases I am searching for and working on, the what I call LIFERS''. See the families I refer to as LIFERS...is because these people have not committed any crime, but they have been handed a life sentence of suffering a missing loved one. I have been working on a project called the LIFERS behind the scene for a few years now, putting together all of these cold cases to feature in a large way, the project has it's name and is not short of a list...I start thinking of things to add again to my project. I cannot shake this sadness today, normally I get angry at all the injustice of the missing that takes place, that's my true motivation, that'' helps me to avoid the sadness, but today is different. The program is about to start, I have greeted everyone there, the organizers, the wife of a once missing man Nick Halliday who was found deceased asked me to speak, I declined; for the first time in the tour I had declined...hummm. I did not want to take the chance I
would breakdown in front of folks, so I sat this one out, no one noticed. It was a very nice program, all the families spoke, Tony asked of me to walk up with him and I did...he was emotionally that always bothers me with him, we have become close like brother and sister and have shared a lot in private...he breaks my heart, he wants and needs to find his brother. We
toss flowers into the ocean, it becomes a snap shot of silence, tears flow as you can almost hear all of the silent cries of these families, for me I know all the names being screamed out. As we say our goodbyes, we are going to be late if we do not leave for the next stop; I feel rushed, I needed more time, I needed to hug Donajean one more time, but we do leave. Traveling over that waterways leaving the area a great feeling of emptiness lingers with me
for hours, I send up my own little prayer, God help theses families to endure their pain, please afford them a resolution, help me to be better to help those who suffer such a great loss, but most of all bring them comfort now and forever, amen. I close my eyes for awhile to escape the reality of it all, not allowing myself to continue to think to much more.
Monica

Tampa Rally Stop

Crossing over the courtney campbell bridge seeing ahead our destination I had a deep sense of returning to a familiar  place not only a visual "I have been there searching for Kelly", but my home, my area I grew up as a child, my sense of family. You see I was born only miles away from where she vanished, I practically lived at all the beaches growing up to include the one she lived on and most of my family still lives in the area with even both of my parents buried nearby; this is home to me and coming back to help my community means a lot. But the reality of a missing person is in every town, community and each state, it touches everyone or will one time or another. It bothers me greatly that before I arrived on the case that this woman who was a few weeks away from being a police officer did not get the national news coverage, and only a few searches conducted...it bothers me that people were not in an uproar about her disappearance, the burden for that was left on her friends and family, only? I know deep down the investigators want to solve the case, find Kelly Rothwell, but it has to be more than about just the investigation, then I get angry, not at them but at the system in which we are guilty of accepting. Then I have to refocus, her loved ones are waiting, we are honoring this missing woman today, sending out a tribute, crying out to God for guidance, keeping hope alive. I stand in awl on the muggy morning, approached with hugs and there not far away the butterflies setting out begging for flight, table covered in flowers and there picture after picture of this peaceful smile; you would have never guessed her life was not happy. After we listened to the start of the song, I fought back tears as this song already meant something in my life before and became a favorite of mine, no one knew that, I could related to its message for sure. The release of the butterflies made me think of Morgan Harrington, a young girl whose life was cut short by an abduction in Virginia and last year we released butterflies in honor of her...I smile and send up a wish for Kelly to be found and one for Morgan that her family would see justice. Then to the waters edge, we threw flowers in the water way, I noticed it was low tide; searching for 11 days for this woman I camped on the tide chart for these waters, even though I dislike that body of water I find myself in somewhat of a peaceful state there. I meet a woman who came from Canada and told me her story of her unsolved homicide "her 10 year old brother", that stuck with me throughout the day. As we were leaving I felt okay because Donna, her best friend was there, she is one of us, determined, so I did not feel like I was leaving Kelly behind, I know I will return soon  and Donna knows that too. Minutes down the road onward to our next stop the fog is lifting, bright sun is burning through, I had to separate my emotions to focus on the next stop....there will be numerous families there waiting and I will need to be strong, I already feel different today, the tour is draining on me a little and I feel like I may need to cry.
Monica

Road Tour Crew 2011

Effingham, SC

This event was hosted by the Florence County Sherriff's Office. Families of missing persons and those who've lost loved ones to unsolved homicides gathered with law enforcement officials to bring attention to cold cases. It had the appearance of a press conference. High ranking law officials taking turns speaking from a podium facing a plethora of media cameras. Clartha McLeod's family, all 10 or so of them, were dressed in bright orange t Shirts that showed Clartha's missing photo. When I first noticed them they were all sitting under our On The Road To Remember banner. Throughout the proceedings my eyes kept wandering back to them seemingly huddled together. Clartha was 74 years old when she went missing from Turbeville in January 2009. She was last seen being dropped off at church. Her large extended family needs answers. The matriarch of their family is gone. They deserve answers. Later we went outside for the balloon release. Prayers were said, hymns were sung, tears were cried, and hugs were shared. Emotional..As we got ready to leave the family handed out postcards with Clartha's picture...They said still missing...Not forgotten, and thank you.....
Elisa

Jacksonville, Florida

I've been pondering how to start this one for two days...I've decided that it's probably best to stop thinking about it and just dive in...so here it goes...
We got to town with a half hour to spare and decided to check into the motel. Something that we had never done before. That's where Monica got the news that Shonda's remains had been recovered. Krishonda Townsend from Mineral Wells, Texas. Her rally had been an emotional candlelight vigil held three days earlier. I remember the blog, my concerns for her son.. Shonda was a beautiful 19 year old mother when she disappeared some fifteen months ago.
We arrived at the church with heavy hearts, fully aware of the pain being experienced states away as Shonda's family was being notified by the police...
The entrance to the church held large color posters of some of the local missing. Plus the clothesline of flyers that we've become accustomed to seeing. The front of the church held the pictures of the six individuals that we were here to honor. This stop was being hosted by Finder's Hope and the family of Austin Davis. Austin's sister was wonderful in the role of emcee. Each family came up and lit a candle and spoke about their missing loved one.
Rosemary Day, 27 years old went missing in May 2011. Her car was found two months later. The newest case presented. The "freshest" family..I remember thinking...When does that change? At what point does that look go away?
John Rowan disappeared in February 2001. It's been ten years since his family last saw this 34 year old man who was both a husband and a father to two sons. He left for work one morning and was never seen again. His car was located one month later wiped clean of any possible evidence or fingerprints. These facts brought me back to memories of my late husband, although the circumstances are vastly different.. Yet..Danny left for work one morning and I never saw him again. His truck forever absent from my driveway. I can remember waking each morning thinking he was away on a trip, and then I would become fully awake and remember.
Joshua Smith is missing from Ponte Vedra Beach. He vanished in November 2000. He went missing on his 23rd birthday eleven years ago...
Bryan Hayes, 13, and Mark Degner, 12, went missing together in February 2005. They were last seen leaving their middle school. How do two boys vanish? Their mothers have had age progressions done. These preteens would now be near adults. Age progressions are an important tool, but they've bothered me on this trip. I think it's because of the amount of time that has gone by to make it necessary....and the consideration of what your child may look like now..
The last candle lit was for Michael Austin Davis. He was 26 years old when he was last seen in June 2007. His mother read a poem highlighting the amount of time Austin has been missing. I've listened to her recite this poem before and it retains it's powerful message. Each time she has to adjust it.. changing the years, months, days...
Elisa

Louisana Rally Stop

Approaching the large church excitement and hope that the stop had support was first on my mind, arriving I was relieved as I saw all the cars piled in the parking lot. I notice the oldest son of Troy Mark waiting for the first sight of our tour bus, he got it and took off running inside to let everyone know, he was so excited. Entering we all were greeted with a warm welcome and hugs. The place was filled with people, large screens displaying ongoing pictures of Troy, moments in time and his family, it was a little overwhelming to see so many different pictures as with his case I have the same four I use for the public and you find yourself getting use to it, not really seeing the many moments of a missing persons actual life. I thought as I spoke to everyone and watched his boys in action, he would be proud of them and how strong his family was staying together. His wife Ashley did a fantastic job with her visuals, displays and also featuring other missing persons from the area. Troy Jr. Was right there by his mothers side, even providing a tender touch when she would get emotional, sadly he has had to grow up and be the man of the house but the family has made sure both of the boys have mentors in place and are encouraged to be children, I found comfort in that. She thought of every little detail and made all feel apart and very welcome. After the inside events, we moved to the outside for the launching of balloons and chinese lanterns, it was awesome to see them fly, and the kids ran after them. It was powerful to see all the teens from the missing teacher take part, their pain was written all over their faces, that made me sad and ache for them. So many families, so much time that can past in a case, and so much sorrow...can we ever really know how much of the world remains in greif due to a person ripped from ones life? I left with know answers to that question..now on to the next stop and working the truck stops along I-10 highway to gain information on the route of a man who has murdered woman. I snuck a peek at the basket I was presented from the boys and the Marks family, all of the contents was what Louisana was famous for, it was so sweet of them, I remain very humble.
Monica