Gone, but not forgotten.
Thats the message Monica Caison, founder of CUE Center for Missing Persons, hopes to send Friday when she hosts a vigil in honor of Crystal Soles at 7 p.m. at Blount Furniture Company, 501 W. Main St. in Andrews. A billboard featuring Soless information will be unveiled.
Fridays vigil will mark just over a year since Soless disappearance Jan. 24, 2005, from Shaws Corner Store in Andrews.
Dates, Caison noted, take on a new importance for families of missing persons.
An anniversary, birthday or holiday means so much to families who suffer a missing loved one, said Caison. Unfortunately, most missing adult cases are only heard of when dates like these arrive.
The families of several other missing personsBrandy Hanna, missing from Charleston; Delwin Locklear, missing from Maxton, N.C.; and Deloris Melton, a former Myrtle Beach resident missing from Seaside Beach, N.C.are expected to attend the vigil.
Candles will be provided and the public is invited to attend. Mallory Malter of Wilmington, N.C. will give a vocal presentation in honor of Soles and her family.
Caison promoted Soless case and others Nov. 25, when she appeared on CNNs Larry King Live. She showed several photographs of those missing in cases considered cold, including Soles and the families expected to attend Fridays vigil.
Caison said she appealed to the media to help raise awareness of low-profile missing persons cases.
We know media exposure early in a case of a missing person yields better results in finding them, but any attention provides a renewed hope for the low-profiled missing, she said.
Though Soles lives in Williamsburg County, Andrews Police Department remains in charge of her case.
According to Williamsburg County Sheriff Kelvin Washington, the lead agency of a case is the agency where the report is filed.
Washington verified that someone had reported seeing Soles in Williamsburg County several months ago, well after her reported Jan. 24 disappearance. He said he could not recall who made the claim, but all efforts to locate Soles were unsuccessful.
Andrews Police Chief Willie Sparkman confirmed Washingtons statement. Sparkman said Soless case will remain open.
I promised Mrs. Soles I would not close the case until it was resolved, he said. Thats what Im going to do. Im not going to close the case until its resolved one way or the other.
Call the Andrews Police Department at 264-5223 with any information regarding Soless case.
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