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View Full Version : Michele Whitaker,38, found after missing for 6 years. Spartanburg, SC


nanabillie
08-05-2008, 06:02 PM
http://www.wspa.com


MISSING SIX YEARS FOUND ALIVE AND WELL

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Staff Reports
Published: August 5, 2008
Michele Whitaker, missing since Aug. 2002, was discovered alive and well Monday night, after her family has worked hard to keep the news of her disappearance alive in the media, the Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright told us Tuesday.
Whitaker came forward to authorities after someone who knew Whitaker, living in an undisclosed location, saw a profile on Whitaker’s case on “Forensic Files.” Whitaker’s acquantaince convinced Whitaker to contact authorities.
The Spartanburg Sheriff’s Office said that while Whitaker had contacted them, she did not want her location disclosed.
She wanted that information kept private and does not wish to be contacted, the department said.
Her disappearance was originally linked to convicted killer Jonathan Vick, according to a press release from Wright’s office.
38-year-old Michele Laurel Whitaker was last seen on August 16, 2002 at Truck Stops of America in Spartanburg.
Investigators believe that she was “missing voluntarily” and was never in danger based on the most recent information.
Investigator William Gary was contacted Monday afternoon and given information on where Whitaker was located. Gary contacted the local officials and they went to the location where she had apparently been staying for the last two years and talked with Whitaker.
The official collected a fingerprint sample from Whitaker that was faxed to Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office. The prints were checked through the AFIS System and confirmed the identity of Whitaker.
Whitaker’s mother told us after the press conference that Michele hadn’t called her but that she was thrilled that her daughter was alive.
The Andrews Family issued the following statement on the Web site devoted to finding their daughter:
Hello everyone, God blessed us today, the 6th anniversary of our daughter’s disappearance....for whatever reason Shelli chose to leave us, she has been found, alive and well, apparently through the miracle of technology of the internet...someone who knows her, googled her name and found us here and that led to the discovery of Shelli’s whereabouts which has been verified by the spartanburg county sheriff’s department....we have not yet had contact with her, through her choice, but want to let her know that when she is ready, we will be waiting for her....please keep us in your prayers that the daughter we love will reunite with us soon....we miss her more than words can explain and have NEVER given up on finding her....
To all the other families who have missing loved ones, DON’T GIVE UP!!!! THERE IS HOPE!!!! And we will continue to pray that your loved ones are found also…
We will update this website with more info when we have it....
God bless you....the Andrews family
Click here (http://michelewhitaker.com/)to see the Web site.
Check out all our coverage on the Michelle Whitaker case (http://www.wspa.com/spa/news/local/article/do_not_publish_news_channel_7s_coverage_on_michele _whitaker/6794/).

nanabillie
08-05-2008, 06:04 PM
Wonderful New!!!! I just had to comment on my own post. Praise the Lord! And be encouraged everyone that has a loved one missing. Miracles still happen.!!

SavannahStar
08-05-2008, 06:26 PM
Wow! Amazing! :zm10:

packy
08-05-2008, 06:40 PM
This is great news. Hopefully she'll touch bases with her family in the future. At least they don't have to agonize over the unknown anymore.

nanabillie
08-05-2008, 07:02 PM
My heart just went out to her Mother. I thought I names of all missing SC, at least all the upstate. I had not heard her name until this week and I don't remember where I saw it then. I wrote it down in my book, read a brief statement about her but had not posted her yet. I hope there are many more found safe.

nanabillie
08-07-2008, 02:31 AM
http://www.wspa.com/spa/news/local/article/missing_
womans_mother_offers_details_about_daughters_disap perance/6847/ http://static.mgnetwork.com/spa/media_path/icons/envelope_24.gif (http://javascript<b></b>:win = window.open('http://users.wspa.com/email_to_a_friend/do_not_publish_news_channel_7s_coverage_on_michele _whitaker/6794?url=http://www.wspa.com/spa/news/local/article/do_not_publish_news_channel_7s_coverage_on_michele _whitaker/6794/','email_article','width=500,height=450,toolbar=ye s, directories=yes, status=yes, menubar=yes, scrollbars=yes, resizable=yes'); win.focus();)
News Channel 7’s coverage on Michele Whitaker


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This flier was originally distributed to find Michele Whitaker, who was discovered alive and well on Tuesday.

By Steven Jones (sjones2@wspa.com)
Web Content Coordinator
Published: August 5, 2008
On the six-year annivesary of her disappearance, Michele Whitaker was found alive and well, living at an undisclosed location.
News Channel 7 and wspa.com will continue to stay on top of the story. Check this page often for updates on the story, and past coverage on her disappearance.
For the latest news story on the case, click here (http://www.wspa.com/spa/news/local/article/spartanburg_county_sheriffs_office_holding_news_co nference_on_missing_perso/6781/).
For 2005 coverage of her disappearance click here (http://www.wspa.com/spa/news/local/article/2005_news_channel_7_coverage_of_the_disappearance_ of_michele_whitaker/6800/).
To see the Web site erected by Michele’s family to aid in their search for the woman, click here (http://michelewhitaker.com/default.aspx).
To watch an interview with Whitaker’s mother, click here (http://www.wspa.com/spa/news/local/article/more_to_the_whitaker_story_watch_the_entire_laura_ andrews_interview/6812/).
Find out more about what happened to Whitaker (http://www.wspa.com/spa/news/local/article/missing_womans_mother_offers_details_about_daughte rs_disapperance/6847/).

KellyJolkowski
08-13-2008, 07:01 PM
A message From Michele's mother, which she stated she wished to be made public:

Dear Kelly,

This is Laura Andrews, Michele Whitaker's mother. I hope that this email will
help you to continue your good work and bring hope to you and all the other
families that are still looking for their loved ones.

Last Tuesday, the sixth anniversary of Michele's disappearance, I received the phone call that made our miracle happen. Our daughter was found alive and well in Oregon! We are so grateful to everyone who has stood by us for 6 years and blessed that our worst nightmare was never realized.

For personal reasons, Michele chose to leave our lives and had no idea that her family was looking for her and hoping and praying from day one until the day she was found that she would be found safe. Strangely enough, someone googled her name for fun and found the website we set up for her and contacted the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Department. They confirmed that it was our Shelli and called me Tuesday morning with the stunning news.

As happy as we are, it has taken the last week for things to calm down enough to feel confident that our relationship with her will be a good one. She was and still is shocked that so much was done to find her. Catching up on 6 years of our lives is a slow process, but it is going well and we are planning a reunion in the near future. Two of her siblings have already flown out to see her.

My message, aside from our great news, is that anyone else whose loved one may have chosen to leave should not expect everything to be just ok on day one. Time heals all wounds. Be patient and loving with each other, which is what we are doing. We thank God every day to be blessed with a second chance.

I will continue to pray for you and all the other families that they, too, have
a "second chance" and find peace in their lives NEVER lose hope, MIRACLES DO HAPPEN!!!

God bless you,
Laura Andrews

SavannahStar
08-13-2008, 07:36 PM
Thank you for sharing that wonderful letter, Kelly! :1222423: