Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
NEWS UPDATE - Brandon woman still missing
Ian Hitchen
Friends of Brandonite, Ashley Neufeld, anxiously wait for news of the young woman who was reported missing in North Dakota following a mysterious phone call.
Deb Baker, a close friend of the Neufeld family, said she tossed and turned all night after learning of the disappearance.
Her cell phone is now planted firmly in her pocket as she awaits word from Ashley’s mom, Bev Neufeld, who’s in Dickinson, ND where Ashley attends university.
“The people in Brandon are hoping for the best,” Baker said, adding she’s fielded numerous queries from concerned acquaintances.
The Neufelds declined comment this morning, but Baker has been in contact with Bev via text messaging.
Ashley, 21 is one of three Dickinson State University softball players reported missing after a friend received alarming phone calls Sunday night.
The calls mentioned water and indicated the women needed help before the line cut out and the friend dialed 911.
The missing women were believed to be in a white 1997 Jeep Cherokee with California plates.
On Monday, airplanes and officers searched within a 48-kilometre radius of the cell phone tower north of Dickinson where the call came through.
The search included Lake Patterson near Dickinson, which is about 158 kilometres west of Bismarck.
Gemar’s father has told media that his daughter and teammates often went star gazing at Patterson Lake.
There were at least two unconfirmed sightings in the area of Killdeer, N.D., more than 50 kilometres north of Dickinson, starting in the early hours of Monday morning, CTV reports.
FOR THE FULL STORY, SEE TOMORROW'S BRANDON SUN.
