Family Fears for Missing Woman (Pevely, MO woman is nine months pregnant)

St. Louis Post Dispatch ^ | 8/17/05 | Matthew Hathaway

[BizzeeMom]

Authorities in Jefferson County announced Wednesday morning that a new task force comprised of 17 police officers is taking over the investigation of a missing pregnant woman last seen Sunday evening.

Lt. Col. Steven Meinberg said the task force met for the first time at 8 a.m. Wednesday. The announcement was made at morning press conference that was supposed to be held at the main meeting room of the sheriff’s office. The briefing had to moved outdoors, because the task force has taken over the meeting room to accommodate officers assigned to the unit from five other Jefferson County police agencies.

Meinberg said officers from Crystal City, Festus, Herculaneum, Hillsboro and Pevely have joined the task force. He said the unit is contact with the FBI, but that the federal agency isn’t actively involved in the investigation. The task force is headed by Lt. Tommy Wright, the head of the detective bureau at the sheriff’s office.

Amanda Jones, 26, of Pevely, was last seen at the horse-show grounds of the Hillsboro Civic Center on Highway 21 in central Jefferson County about 5 p.m. Sunday. Police found Jones’ unlocked car at the civic center but said it offered no clues as to her

[Texas Mom]

I wonder if this will get the attention that the Aruba disappearance has?

Don't think this will go on that long, and nothing to compare with the Aruba disappearance.

The only thing to compare it to is the one in Philadelphia. Single women who get themselves pregnant, confront the father of the child, make demands and disappear.

When will these women learn, those men want them in bed, but when it comes to a baby, responsibilities etc, they don't want a thing to do with you or your baby.

She was going to the Civic Center to meet him and no one hears from her again. It doesn't take a CSI team to figure this one out. They'll find her and it won't be that long before they do.

I hope I'm wrong but I don't think I am.

[WestCoastGal]

"Her parents seem to believe the father of the unborn baby had something to do with it."

That unfortunately is probably true.

These guys think because they are bigger & stronger they can abuse and/or kill at will. In many cases it's alcohol and violence that leads to an unfortunate end. [Women do need to get out before that happens]

The only thing they don't count on is their own stupidity which will eventually get them caught. The one in Pennsylvania led them directly to the pregnant woman's body.

Prayers for her family.

[cyborg]

bump!

[WestCoastGal]

They need to get search dogs out there immediately. The length of time lost before they did this in Aruba will probably be the reason Natalee will never be found.

This is just a horrible situation. 9 months pregnant, very sad.

[cyborg]

Whatever the media deems more profitable for ads will make it.

[cyborg]

You're right. This is so sad.

[BizzeeMom]

If LE assumes she is deceased, the urgency level would be less than if they believe she was kidnapped.

[BizzeeMom]

The scuttlebutt I heard said they already did have dogs out there. It was raining the day the searching started though, and for several days after, don't know if that affects the dogs' performance or not.

[Palladin]

Very sad. Another pregnant mom most likely killed by the baby's father. This case very much resembles the LaToyia Figueroa case in Philly. The guy says "Meet me for lunch", and then...BANG!

[BizzeeMom]

In the Figueroa case there was a reward fund....as far as I know there isn't one for Amanda. Hmmmm, I wonder if that would help loosen tongues.

[show me state]

17 officers are working full-time on the case. So far, 125 leads have been followed, 25 to 30 are still open.

Amanda's parents are expected to attend a media briefing Tuesday (8/23) where police will make an announcement.

http://ksdk.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=83714

[BizzeeMom]

Hmmm....wonder what that announcement could be. When I went through town this morning, there was a Fox2 satellite truck up on main street...

[Countyline]

It is almost always someone close to the victim in some way. Whether it is child abductions or murdered expectant mothers it is someone known to her.

The guy wanting to have nothing to do with her having an attorney quickly and his girlfriend having an attorney is also a hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

There is more to the story. Surely there are people that saw them together there.
WHERE IS AMANDA?

[Alamo-Girl]

I join in urgent prayer for this woman and her baby!

[BizzeeMom]

Thank you!

[BizzeeMom]

Driving by the Civic Center/Horseshow grounds this morning, seeing all the trucks and cars buzzing around the place, it seems impossible something like this could have happened without a single witness.

How can a very pregnant woman vanish into thin air?

Everybody knows everybody here. Hillsboro is a small town. Highway 21 is the only drag road through it, and it's only two lanes wide.

It may seem like Amanda has vanished, into thin air, but she hasn't. She is somewhere, maybe alive and well, maybe not. Given her condition and known devotion to her daughter and family, that seems highly unlikely.

Whoever did this to her is a cold heartless monster, caring nothing for the agony her family and friends endure every minute of every day that she is gone. Whoever you are--you may get away with this for a month or a year or even 50 years--but God knows right now who you are and you won't get away with it forever.

End of rant...

[ButterflyB]

I feel so sorry for Amanda's family and coworkers. They must be in torment. Do wonder why Eagle Bank where she worked didn't post a reward. I can't buy into the runaway theory. Her cell phone and credit cards haven't been used. How would she survive. I can see possibly someone following her who wanted to steal the baby but sheesh how often does that actually happen. I believe Bryan is somewhat commitment phobic. Before the current girlfriend(who recently hired a lawyer)he had one of a few years who eventually married someone else. I believe the farm means more to him than anything. I know others have said that someone must have seen something and just won't say because they're afraid but I believe there may be just as many who might not tell the entire truth in order to protect Bryan. This is where I think that a reward might be of great help.

He is a pilot as is his brother(the former state trooper and now private investigator)and he is also scuba certified.

Hope that LE searched the barn at the horse show grounds really well. As harsh as this sounds, it seems that under a stall or the riding arena would be a good place to conceal something. Or maybe even one of those 50 gallon barrels that they use in horse shows could have been used to move something somewhere else. Jefferson County(Hillsboro) is heavily wooded and private in many places. Then there's always ponds, lakes, rivers. And right around the corner from the horse show grounds is heavy construction on a new highway. Gruesome but there are so many possibilities. I still hope and pray they'll find her and the baby ok.

[Fitzcarraldo]

Prison phone ping for Scott Peterson - your wife's killer has struck again. /sarc

[show me state]

Tuesday afternoon (8/23), her family offered a $100,000 reward for anyone who gave them information that helped them find her and anyone who may have harmed her.

http://ksdk.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=83714

[BizzeeMom]

I think you are spot on regarding just about everything. You obviously know this town (and the Westfalls) quite well.

Now that the reward has been announced ($100,000) I do hope some people will report what they know. As you said, they're not only reticent out of fear but out of reluctance to rat out a friend, fellow farmer, or whatever. I've been praying people will have a change of heart in this regard.

As you mentioned there would be a plethora of places a person could hide a body around here. IMO the horse show grounds is not the place, though.