Holly Metzger, 34 MSG[Body Found] Since 12-17-07 from Mansfield, OH

[Grande]

Police won’t rule out foul play in search for missing Lex woman
BY MARK CAUDILL
News Journal

http://i7.tinypic.com/6yp5460.jpg

MANSFIELD — Police are not ruling out foul play in the disappearance of a village woman who has been missing since Dec. 17.

Lexington police Lt. Jeff Hoffer has expanded the search to include Cleveland and Columbus area media outlets. Holly Metzger (aka Carruthers) was last seen at 9:11 p.m. at the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Possum Run Road and nearby service stations in the area of Interstate 71 and Ohio 13, south of Mansfield.

Metzger’s abandoned car was found about 4 a.m. Dec. 18 on Ohio 97 and Ohio 3, close to Loudonville and the Mohican State Forest. Ohio Division of Watercraft employees searched the Mohican River along Wally Road but found nothing.

Metzger’s family has agonized since her disappearance.

“You would have to be in our position to know what it’s like,” said Dawn Risner, Metzger’s aunt. “I sleep, but I can’t stay asleep.

“It’s like a horror movie.”

Risner said the family is appreciative of the support it has received from the community.

“It would take me a good afternoon to call the people who have shown concern for her,” she said.

Metzger, 34, is the single mother of a 12-year-old son and an 8-year-old daughter. She worked at Infocision Management Corp. Metzger, a Mansfield Senior High School graduate, received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

She was last seen wearing a black coat with an emblem over the left breast, gray hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans. Metzger stands 5 feet, 2 inches and weighs 138 pounds. She has brown hair and green eyes and wears prescription glasses.

“I’m trying to stay hopeful,” said Melissa Long, Metzger’s best friend since age 9. “It’s scary to think otherwise.

“You hear about other people, but when it’s someone you care about, it really hits home.”

Anyone with information on Metzger’s whereabouts is asked to call the Lexington Police Department at 419-884-1032 or the nearest law enforcement agency.

“We’re not giving up hope on her,” Risner said. “Everybody is just praying that she gets back safely.”

http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080107/UPDATES01/80107020

[Grande]

Lexington Police Look For Clues In Missing Woman Case
originally posted on: 1/10/2008 4:55:50 PM

Posters are up around the Lexington area seeking information about Holly Carruthers.

Despite flyers bearing her picture and periodic stories in the news media, there are no solid leads on the disappearance of a Lexington woman. Holly Carruthers, also known as Holly Metzger, has been missing since Dec. 17.

Lexington Police Chief Brett Pauley says they have not ruled out foul play in the case of the missing woman who was last seen around Wal-Mart and the nearby gas station on Possum Run Road.

Her car was found Dec. 18 in a ditch on State Route 97 near Mohican Forest in Ashland County.

The missing woman's aunt, Dawn Risner, says she has no idea why Carruthers would go to the Mohican area at that time of year. She says it's possible the woman was confused because her medicine had been changed.

Carruthers was last known to be wearing a black coat with an emblem over the left breast, a gray hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans. She is 5-feet-2-inches tall, weighs 138 pounds and has brown hair and green eyes. She wears prescription glasses, Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lexington Police or the nearest law enforcement agency.

http://www.northcentralohio.com/newsboard/single.asp?Story=30345

[Grande]

<Snip>

This is Hollys full name. I am her Aunt Dawn, if u know Holly well .. you know she calls me Aunt Mis. Holly and her brother Bruce were raised by their grandparents, Chris and Jay Jones. Holly is a loving mom, this is not normal for her to go off and leave her children. Holly always kept her purse close at hand whenever i was around her. finding her purse in the car scares me , along with medicines that this forum has said was in the purse. Holly is currently married to Tom Carruthers but not living with him, she lived alone with her children. this is why she is reported as single mom. the childrens father, Phil is very helpful to Holly and the children. I am not sure what to expect in a situation like this so I am not sure what is being done is not how things go. Holly is close with her mom, this is very hard on her mom going thru this. Holly can be depressed at times, goes along with her diagnosis. she was on medications for this illness which to my understanding were changed just recently. this is why she could be confused or disoriented. the children are being taken care of by family.
i am not sure what can be done now to help out. i, myself, would like to do the search party thing. but again where? unless it came back towards mansfield from loudonville. i wrote this to answer questions from forum readers. anyone with questions or comments can reach me at dawn1273@yahoo.com please keep holly in ur minds, hearts and prayers! thank you . Dawn Risner

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 3:33 am

http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080108/NEWS01/801080312/1002

[Pauli]

Search Continues For Missing Mother

Jan 17 2008 7:09PM

http://www.10tv.com/sites/10tv/content/images/200801/news_holly_metzger160.jpg
LEXINGTON, Ohio - Authorities on Thursday continued to search for a 34-year-old woman who vanished from a shopping trip one month ago.

Holly Metzger (pictured, right) was last seen on Dec. 17 at a Wal-Mart store near Mansfield, 10TV's Maureen Kocot reported.

A day later, Metzger's green Buick Regal was found stuck in the mud near the Mohican State Forest in southern Ashland County. Her purse and medication were still inside the car, but keys to the vehicle were not recovered.

Investigators have found no trace of Metzger since her disappearance, Kocot reported.

On Thursday, park rangers once again combed the area for clues. The renewed search effort came a few weeks after authorities said that foul play had not been ruled out in the case.

Dogs trained to locate bodies spent the morning near the Mohican River, while other authorities searched the woods for snags of fabric, Kocot reported.

The day Metzger's car was discovered, rangers said that they failed to find footprints in the fresh snow. The lack of prints suggests that Metzger may have walked down the road for help, or got into another vehicle.

Metzger's friend, Missy Long, said she doubts that Metzger would have left her vehicle. She also said that the mother of two would not have left her children.

"Walking? That wasn't our thing," Long said. "Cars; we drove."
The investigation is ongoing.

http://www.10tv.com/?sec=news&story=sites/10tv/content/pool/200801/781816118.html

[KittyMom]

How do they know that she was the one that left the car there? Maybe someone else left it?:0009:

[Grande]

Candlelight Vigil Planned For Missing Lexington Woman
originally posted on: 2/15/2008 11:30:17 AM

The family of a missing Lexington woman will hold a candlelight vigil Monday at 7 p.m. on the square in Lexington.

Holly Metzger Carruthers, 34, has been missing since Dec. 17. She was last seen at the Wal-Mart Supercenter on O'Possum Run Road and a nearby gas station. Her abandoned car was found the next day by police near the Mohican State Forest.

The investigation into her disappearance still continues with the assistance of other local, state and federal agencies. Anyone with information about this case can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-877-645-TIPS. Information about Carruther's disappearance is posted on the National Center for Missing Adults website www.theyaremissed.org

http://www.northcentralohio.com/newsboard/single.asp?Story=30752

[Pauli]

Nearly 50 brave weather for vigil to missing Lex woman
BY JAMI KINTON
News Journal

LEXINGTON — The wind and snow wreaked havoc with the candles, but the message was still warm.

Nearly 50 people gathered on the Lexington square Monday night for a candlelight vigil held for Holly Metzger Carruthers.

The 34-year-old Lexington woman disappeared Dec. 17. “I didn’t know Holly, but I just think how I would feel if my kids were missing,” said Larry Simmons, a father of three in Lexington. “I just wanted to come tonight to show my support. I hope they find her and I hope she’s OK.”

Carruthers was last seen at the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Possum Run Road and gas stations in the area of Interstate 71 and Ohio 13 on Mansfield’s far south side.
Her abandoned car was found early Dec. 18 at the intersection of Ohio 97 and Ohio 3, close to Loudonville and the Mohican Memorial State Forest.

Dawn Risner spearheaded the vigil for her missing niece.

“I want Holly back out in the media. I want her back with her kids. Her kids need her,” Risner said. “I want people aware that she still hasn’t been found.”

Patty DuVall, 62, said Carruthers used to frequent the bank she works.

“I also worked with her grandmother, and I wanted to be here tonight for her family and for Holly,” the Lexington woman said. “They can’t find her — I don’t know what’s wrong. I just really felt the need to be here.”

Christina Peth, 37, and Michelle Earnett, 36, attended the vigil together.

“I’m from Lexington and I just think this is terrible,” Earnett said. “I hope she’s found safely. I think there is more than both the public and the media can do.”

“I hope she has a good and safe return and that nothing bad happened to her,” Peth said.

Sharon Nevius, 58, said she’s been friends with Carruthers over nine years.

“We knew each other through past employment. I also used to watch her children,” she said. “Holly is a very good person. She loves her children. She’s a hard worker. She would do anything for you.”

April Luedy, youth director at the First Congregational Church, passed out pink ribbons that members of her church made.

“Holly grew up down the street from us, and I had her son in school,” Luedy said. “(Officer) Jeff Hoffer goes to our church and asked if we could do something, so we made these.”

Mayor Gene Parkison helped light the candles.

“This is such a tragedy for the friends and family,” he said. “We don’t know what happened, I just hope someone will step forward with information. Someone must know something that could help this family.”

Randy Shaffer traveled from Columbus to support Risner.

Shaffer’s son Brian has been missing the past two years.

“Dawn and I have been talking quite a bit,” he said. “I’ve given her some ideas. We’ve hung fliers and gone door-to-door. I just really feel for her. I know what this is like.”

Shaffer the said the vigil brought back some hard memories for him.
“We’ve held quite a lot of these for Brian,” he said. “It feels like just yesterday I lost him. It’s hard.”

A tearful Nevius shielded her candle with her hand.

“I just still can’t believe she’s missing,” she said softly. “She’s in my heart everyday.”
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080218/UPDATES01/80218029

[nanabillie]

I'm praying your precious Holly is found soon.

[Grande]

Body of missing woman found in Mohican River
By Jami Kinton
T-F staff

LEXINGTON -- Dawn Risner said community prayers brought her niece home, but not in the way she wanted.

The body of Holly Metzger Carruthers, 34, was found in the Mohican River in southern Holmes County around 9:30 Tuesday morning, which marks almost exactly three months since the Lexington woman was reported missing on Dec. 17.

Lexington police reported that the body was recovered and then transported to Doctors Hospital in Massillon for an autopsy.

"We've had numerous churches and people praying for Holly's return," Risner said. "I would like to thank everyone for the prayers and calls. We've got some closure, but just not totally until we find out what happened."
Holmes County Coroner Dr. Robert Anthony said it appears that Carruthers drowned, but a complete autopsy won't be finished for about three months.

Lexington police Chief Brett Pauley said the investigation has been turned over to the Holmes County Sheriff's Department, who said they would not be releasing any information until today.

"Certainly our condolences go out to the family," Lexington police Lt. Jeff Hoffer. "We will be assisting the Holmes County police in any way possible."

Lexington Mayor Gene Parkison said he hopes that finding Carruthers body will bring some closure to her family.

"My heartfelt sympathies go out to the family members," Parkison said in a somber voice. "It's always a tragedy to lose someone, but I think more so in this case. Anytime you've had a missing person for this long of time, it has a tragic effect on family more than anything. We held a candlelight service a little while ago in hopes that someone would come forward with information and lead this thing to a better conclusion than we're at. I'm just sorry it ended this way."

Lexington police previously reported Carruthers had last been seen Dec. 17 at the Wal-Mart Supercenter on O'Possum Run Road and nearby service stations. Her abandoned car was discovered near Ohio 3 and Ohio 97 near Loudonville the morning after she went missing.

Ohio Division of Watercraft employees searched the Mohican River along Wally Road the next week, checking the murky waters and along the shoreline, but found nothing.

Carruthers was the a single mother of a 12-year-old son and an 8-year-old daughter.

Risner said Carruthers attended Mansfield Senior High School, where she was a cheerleader and a member of the band. She received a bachelor's degree in accounting from Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

"From what I've heard, Holmes County police identified her and called the Lexington police to let them know," Risner said. "I heard that someone was walking a dog and found her. We're glad she was found, but we didn't want it this way."

Risner said no other members of Carruthers family wished to comment at this time.

Patty DuVall, 62, of Lexington, said Carruthers used to frequent the bank where she works. She also attended the vigil held last month.

"Holly's grandmother came into the bank this morning and said they didn't really have any new information, and then called back shortly after she left and told me the news," DuVall said. "I know they dredged that river when she came up missing, but I won't have closure until they find out what happened. I need more facts. Was she there the whole time? I'm devastated. I was hoping and praying for something else, but I'm so thankful they found her. I really am. I just feel so bad for her family and wish there was something I could do."

Best friend Melissa Long said she's known Carruthers since age 9. She said co-workers informed her Tuesday of her finding.

"It brings me some closure, but I didn't want it this way," she said. "Hearing the news was very heart wrenching. Her family is in my prayers, every one of them. I love them all. This is all just hard to imagine right now. I don't think it's 100-percent sunk in yet -- I never expected to bury my best friend so young."

http://www.bucyrustelegraphforum.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080319/NEWS01/803190305

[Grande]

Foul Play Not Ruled Out In Woman's Disappearance, Death
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 5:18 PM

LEXINGTON, Ohio — A day after a missing woman's body was found in the Mohican River, authorities said that foul play was not ruled out in her death, 10TV's Maureen Kocot reported.

Holly Metzger was last seen on Dec. 17 at a Wal-Mart store in Mansfield. Her car was later found early the next morning abandoned near the Mohican State Forest in southern Ashland County.

There was no trace of Metzger until her body was located in the river on Tuesday morning.

An autopsy revealed that Metzger drowned, but investigators were working to determine whether her death was an accident, Kocot reported.

According to police, a new witness recently claimed that they saw Metzger at about 1:30 a.m. on Dec. 18, Kocot reported.

No other details were released.

Metzger's aunt said the rest of her family just wanted answers.

"It'll never be over because we don't have Holly back," said Dawn Risner. "We have to pick up and go on, but knowing a little more will help us."

The investigation was ongoing.

Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for additional information.

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2008/03/19/metzger.html?sid=102

[Grande]

Missing Lexington mom found, but answers are elusive
By JAMI KINTON
News Journal

LEXINGTON -- The Christmas wreath on Eileen VanPatten's front door won't come down anytime soon.

"I told my mom I wasn't taking my wreath down 'til we found out what happened to Holly," said the mother of Holly Metzger Carruthers, who disappeared Dec. 17.

Carruthers' body was found in Holmes County Tuesday morning.

"But now I still don't want to. I never really expected this outcome at all," VanPatten said. "That's where the shock comes in."
Wednesday afternoon, VanPatten, 54, and aunt Dawn Risner had a news conference in the community room of the Lexington Village Hall.

According to the Holmes County Sheriff's Department, the Lexington woman's body was found in the Mohican River along County Road 23, near Arrow Point Campground in Knox Township around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Holmes County Coroner Dr. Robert Anthony said it appears Carruthers drowned, but an autopsy won't be finished for about three months.

Carruthers was the single mother of a 12-year-old son and an 8-year-old daughter.

"I'd like to thank everyone who's helped us the past three months," Risner began tearfully. "It didn't turn out the way we wanted, but we have Holly and she'll be put to rest here soon. This has been devastating for our family, but I want to really thank the Lexington police. Anything I had a question about or something I wanted them to look into, they went out of their way to check it out. They've done extremely well for us."

Lexington Lt. Jeff Hoffer said three agencies are handling the investigation.

"This case is pretty unusual because it involves three different counties, Richland, Ashland and Holmes. She was missing from Lexington. Her car was in Ashland, but her body was found in Holmes County," he said. "Because of the multi-jurisdiction, we're trying to determine the lead agency right now. We all met yesterday and today, and until we run out of other leads or things to follow, we will continue the investigation with the other departments. If one of us has to take the lead so be it, but right now I don't see any reason why we can't all work together. "

Hoffer added he couldn't specify how long Carruthers had been dead or how long her body was in the river.

"That would be up to the coroner to determine," he said. "The investigation is continuing right now and can't be disclosed. There are suspects and the manner of death is still open to investigation. Everything so far has come from people who knew her or had contact with her.

"Right now we are looking at the manner of death, the means of death. We're also looking to see if this was self-inflicted, accidental or at the hands of another."

Ironically, Risner said a woman named Holly found Carruthers.

"I'm just glad she stepped up. I'm glad she called the police and had someone check it out," Risner said. "We're so grateful that she did that. She seemed like a very nice lady and I'd just like to thank her."

Risner said she doesn't believe Carruthers would have left home without explanation.

"Holly loved her children and she wouldn't have left them and just taken off," she said. "That part we know. I think weather might have had something to do with it. This is just devastating. When Eileen called me and told me yesterday, it was awful. I couldn't even think."

VanPatten said she took the news hard.

"I shook so bad when I heard," she said. "At about a quarter to 12 (Tuesday), I heard banging on my door and I looked out the bedroom window and saw the Lexington police car and my heart just totally sunk. Then I thought, now wait a minute, it could be that they found her and she's OK. But the minute I opened up the door and saw expression on (Chief Brett Pauley's) face, I knew it was something else.

"I thought I was going to faint. I was by myself, but (Pauley) stayed and talked and comforted me until other people came over. He said, 'I'm not leaving you alone.' "

Risner said VanPatten never believed her daughter would not return home.

"In my heart I just thought, my girl's still going to be OK. Maybe she just took off a while," VanPatten said. "Sometimes life gets overwhelming and you have to do that. I knew the thought of Christmas might have been hard for her, you know, being a single mom and buying all the gifts and things. I don't know, I just thought she was still alive."

Risner said she hopes the community will continue to keep her family in their prayers.

"Eventually we'll get by with this and get on with our lives, but Holly will always be in our hearts and memories," she said. "Everybody keeps using the word 'closure,' but things will never be totally closed because we don't have Holly back."

jkinton@nncogannett.com 419-521-7220

http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080320/NEWS01/803200310

[Grande]

Tears shed in Holly's memory
Family, friends pay last respects to Lexington woman found in river
By JAMI KINTON
Mansfield News Journal

LEXINGTON —Three yellow ribbons graced the flower arrangement on top of her pristine casket. In between the golden carnations, roses and daisies, the ribbons read "Aunt," "Sister," and "Daughter."

For three months, Holly Metzger Carruthers was known to many as "the missing Lexington woman," but for many who attended her calling hours Friday, she was family.

"She was my first cousin and the first grandchild," said Stephen Domka, 30. "We spent a lot of time together growing up. All of the grandkids were really close. I probably saw her just about every weekend between the ages of 5 and 13.

"She loved to have a good time and was always cracking jokes. She had a very unique laugh. I'll never forget it."

Carruthers, the 34-year-old single mother of two, disappeared Dec. 17. Her body was found in the Mohican River in Holmes County on Tuesday. Her calling hours were at the Lexington Avenue Snyder Funeral Home.

Domka said Carruthers was driven.

"As much as she loved having fun, she had a very serious side to her, too," he said. "She wanted to be very successful in everything she did. She always had a new goal. All of us are still kind of in shock. At least for me, this all hasn't quite sunk in yet."

Melinda Robertson agreed with that sentiment.

The 38-year-old said she is a cousin of Carruthers' mother, Eileen VanPatten.

"Holly and I took some trips to Illinois together growing up, and then we hung out in high school," she said. "She was fun and friendly, just a real bubbly person."

Robertson said she met Carruthers' children for the first time Friday.

"Her daughter looks a lot like her mom did when she was little," Robertson said, looking fondly at the young girl. "I have a lot of good memories with Holly. It's been a long time since I've seen her and it just makes you feel kind of sad when you don't see someone for a while and then something like this happens. It makes you really realize how important family is."

Carruthers' sister, Amber VanPatten, stood next to Eileen at the end of the receiving line. Two floor lamps cast a rose hue on the casket behind them.

Amber, 19, said she flew in from Texas to be with her mother.

"I just want to thank everyone who came and tell them how much we appreciate it," Amber said. "Their support during this time has been great. We couldn't even put into words how much everything means to us."

Carruthers' brother, Bruce Jones, echoed her words.

"I want to thank the community and the Lexington Police Department for everything they've done for us," said Jones, 30. "We love Holly — and we're just really going to miss her."

http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080322/UPDATES01/80322003

[sarahhod]

Case still open on single mom's death

http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20081227/NEWS01/812270302/1002

By JAMI KINTON • News Journal • December 27, 2008


LEXINGTON -- More than nine months have passed since the body of Holly Metzger Carruthers was found, but Lexington police Lt. Jeff Hoffer said the investigation is far from over.

The Lexington woman was missing for three months before her body was found March 18 in the Mohican River.

"We're still investigating it," Hoffer said. "The coroner told us how she died, but it's still unknown how she got in the water. As long as info keeps coming in, we're still gonna pursue any leads.

"There are still people who call in and ask me to check into things."

Carruthers, 34, the single mother of a 12-year-old son and an 8-year-old daughter, disappeared Dec. 17, 2007.

She was last seen at the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Possum Run Road and gas stations in the area of Interstate 71 and Ohio 13, south of Mansfield.

According to the Holmes County Sheriff's Department, her body was found along County Road 23, near Arrow Point Campground in Knox Township. Holmes County Coroner Dr. Robert Anthony said it appeared Carruthers drowned.

"A lot of the leads require me to travel to go interview people or get some piece of information, and we're just now getting time to do that," Hoffer said. "Most of the people who call us are related to Holly and are asking us, 'Was this done?' or 'Was that?' And that's fine, we want to check into everything."

Hoffer said he understood why the case was so high profile.

"She was a single mother with family. Plus, most people typically don't associate something like this with Lexington, so part of it was the territory where she's from," he said. "We haven't gotten anything new that would affect the outcome of the investigation so far, but we're definitely learning more about the people involved with this."

Hoffer said there is no timeline for how long the case will be kept open.

"We want to figure it out," he said. "It bothers me as far as the investigation goes.

"Everyone deserves the right to have the final answers on how a family member died."

jkinton@nncogannett.com
419-521-7220