Family of missing Chelmsford woman asking for public’s help – Lowell Sun
By
Robert Mills |
rmills@lowellsun.com | Lowell Sun
PUBLISHED: January 3, 2020 at 7:18 pm | UPDATED: January 3, 2020 at 7:19 pm
It has been two weeks since 54-year-old Susan Willand, the single mother of a grown daughter, left her cellphone, wallet and car keys at her home in North Chelmsford and vanished.
Despite a massive search effort from Chelmsford police, with assistance from other local police departments, Willand has been seen only once since — in surveillance footage from the Southwell softball field in North Chelmsford, in which Willand was seen at 7:38 a.m. on the day she disappeared.
“Sue has not been seen or heard from since,” her family said in
statement shared widely Thursday night. “She left her dog and her daughter alone in the house, which is very uncharacteristic.”
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Photos of Susan Willand provided by her family.
Chelmsford police have searched for Willand extensively, and on Dec. 23 the search effort included roughly 130 police officers from surrounding communities, according to Chief James Spinney.
Massachusetts Environmental Police have used sonar to check for Willand in the Merrimack River, and police have scoured all the surveilliance footage they could get their hands on from businesses in the area, all with no additional sign of Willand, according to Spinney.
Chelmsford officers are still conducting daily checks and searches in areas around North Chelmsford as well.
“There are no signs of foul play,” Spinney said. “There’s no indication that anyone has done her harm.”
A niece, Susan Teal, said Willand had undergone a trauma just weeks before she disappeared, when her longtime boyfriend suffered a stroke in the middle of the night.
“She woke up and realized it was happening and called 911 and saved his life,” Teal said. “He’s the love of her life and she wanted to take care of him 24/7.”
Teal said the family suspects the stress of organizing the logistics of caring for her boyfriend, and work, and the holidays, may have led Willand to disappear even though it’s so out of character.
“She always puts other people before herself,” Teal said. “We’re holding out hope that we can find her and get her help and bring her home safely.”
Willand is 5 feet, 7 inches tall, with bleach blond, shoulder-length hair, a thin build and green eyes, according to her family. She was last seen wearing a dark navy blue, almost black coat with a furred hood.
The family said in a statement that Willand is extremely athletic and an avid walker who could cover long distances, which is why they are asking people in towns throughout the region to keep their eyes open.
The family is asking people, especially now that many are returning home from holiday trips, to check surveillance footage and check around homes, in sheds or in parked cars or other potential hiding spots for any evidence of Willand.
“Susan is adored by her family and friends. She is a passionate person, who cares for others more than herself,” the family said in a statement. “She works hard and raised her accomplished daughter on her own, always the fun, cool mom ready with tenderness and love. Sue is fun-loving and adventurous, going on hiking trips and family vacations.”
Teal, said the family is all working together and working in shifts to organize searches and work with police.
“It’s really important that the public look for her and get out there and be really attentive when looking for her,” Teal said.
“This is so completely unlike her. She had dealt with a trauma recently and we were reaching out to her. We don’t think she was taken by anyone,” Teal said. “But we feel like we want to tell her and make sure she knows we all love her and we want her to come home safely.”
The family thanked those who have already reached out and helped, saying the support “has helped us keep up hope and courage as we continue our search.”
“Her friends and family love her, and her community has come together to ensure she comes home safely,” the family said in a statement. “Sue, if you can hear this, please come home. We just want to know you are safe and we want you to know that we love you unconditionally.”
For additional information and updates on the search effort, visit: Find Sue Willand.
Anyone with any information on Willand or her whereabouts is asked to immediately call Chelmsford Police at 978-256-2521.
