http://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/news/families-of-the-missing-find-new-hope-after-cleveland-rescue/article_20228859-022e-544d-8439-e650ac48f59e.html
Story recently posted in the "Marshall News Messenger" on May 14, 2013
Families of the missing find new hope after Cleveland rescue By Sarah Thomas
sthomas@newsmessenger.com | Posted: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 4:00 am
Two East Texas families are living with renewed hope for their missing loved ones after three Cleveland women — missing for more than 10 years — were found alive Monday.
Janice Norwood’s daughter, Kimberly Norwood, vanished a mile away from the family home in Hallsville more than 20 years ago.
She was 12 years old.
“Every time they find someone it ... gives me hope,” Janice Norwood said.
Amanda Berry, Michelle Knight and Gina DeJesus had been held captive for 10 years in a Cleveland, Ohio, home before Berry was able to escape Monday.
“I think it’s just awesome. I’m so glad for their families,” Janice Norwood said.
Norwood’s daughter was last seen on the evening of May 20, 1989, by friends who were walking her home. Kimberly and her friends split up during the walk.
The description of what Kimberly was last seen wearing — 1980s staples that included a Swatch watch and black Keds tennis shoes — is a reminder of how long it has been since the girl described as a good student, in love with horses and giggly about boys disappeared.
“She was a normal 12-year-old,” Janice Norwood said as she struggled to recall memories from those years ago.
As decades passed, Janice Norwood’s hope of finding her missing child has had its peaks and valleys, with peaks spurred by news of other missing girls reunited with their families.
“It happened three years ago when they found Jaycee Dugard,” Janice Norwood said.
Dugard was abucted in 1991 in California and was missing 18 years.
Hope isn’t just for families. Police continue to work the Norwood case, following leads and tips as recently as this past year.
“We still get tips from around the country. The most recent tip we got was regarding a woman who lives in California and thought a neighbor looked similar. That was eight months ago,” said Jay Webb, spokesman for the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office.
But Webb didn’t want to say if police believe Norwood’s family would be as fortunate as the families of the Cleveland women, adding the outcome there is what family, friends and investigators hope for in every case.
But in reality, Webb said, what happened in Cleveland is almost unheard of.
“I would say to find someone, especially three ladies that have been kept secreted away for this long, is highly unusual,” he said.
Still, Webb said, he has never closed the books on the Norwood case.
“This is absolutely an ongoing investigation. It has never been closed. There’s been a complete and thorough investigation for over 20 years,” he said.
Nothing short of finding Kimberly Norwood, Webb said, would end the investigation, one that has included the efforts of the Texas Rangers, sheriff’s deputies, FBI agents, psychics and four private investigators hired by the Norwood family.
“We won’t close this case until we find someone who stands up and says ‘I’m Kimberly Norwood’ and we can positively ID them or we find remains we can ID as her,” he said.
Norwood struggled to find words as she imagined what reuniting with her daughter would feel like.
“There are no words,” she said. “It would just be so awesome. That would be the best Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Christmas there could ever be.”
Although Janice Norwood has gained a new hope for her daughter’s return, she said her husband, Bobby, doesn’t share the same feelings.
“I sense Kim is alive. A lot of people don’t. Bobby doesn’t,” she said.
After struggling to find the words, Janice Norwood said it would be more difficult to die having never found her daughter than to have found her dead, adding not knowing and not getting closure is the worst part.
“Not finding her at all would be terrible. We want to know. We need to know,” she said.
And time could be running out for the couple whose health is rapidly declining — worsened by the stress of losing their daughter.
“Early on I got so tired of people in the grocery store coming up to me because they had seen us on TV or in the newspaper and they told me how strong I was. I just got so tired of hearing it because I don’t think I was that strong. I was just doing what I had to do,” Janice Norwood said.
She survived breast cancer in 2004 and a heart attack two years later. Bobby Norwood suffered a stroke in 2003 and a heart attack in 2010, after which he had quadruple bypass surgery.
Janice Norwood was hospitalized 19 days in March, another six days earlier this month and was recently diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver.
“I know this. When I die, I will know. I’ll know then,” Janice Norwood said.
Jimmy Tidwell
The news from Cleveland fueled optimism in Rusk County, where a man has been missing for more than a year.
James “Jimmy” Tidwell’s truck was found Feb. 28, 2012, about eight miles from his home near Texas 315 and FM 95, said Sgt. David Roberts with the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office.
Lynn Akin, Tidwell’s sister, said no matter how small the possibility of finding her brother alive she, too, welcomes news such as that in Cleveland and the hope it gives her family.
“There are times that I think the worst because I think he would’ve contacted his family,” she said.
Before his disappearance, Akin said she and her brother spoke at least once a week.
“Emotionally, it’s very hard. There’s always those doubts and you constantly think about the ifs and buts, and you drive yourself insane,” she said.
Akin, like Janice Norwood, said she needs closure. She said knowing her brother is dead would at least give his family a way to start the healing process.
“We could begin to put the pieces back together and move on. It would be a bad deal, but it would also be something concrete. Otherwise, you’re just hanging in limbo,” Akin said.
