Evelyn Monk, 44, Missing [FOUND SAFE] Since 12/10/08, Sebring, FL

[Faith]

Sheriff's Deputies Continue Search For Missing Woman

Published: December 10, 2008

SEBRING - The Highlands County Sheriff's Office is bringing in additional law enforcement officials to assist in their search for a missing woman who is listed as mentally challenged.

HCSO Lt. Kenny Johnson said, in addition to the eight uniformed road patrol deputies already assisting, the office's search airplane is also going to be used.

Johnson said the woman, 44-year-old Evelyn Monk, was reported missing this morning by her roommate, who is also mentally challenged. The two reside in the 2000 block of Grouper Drive.

Monk reportedly left on foot sometime after her roommate went to bed at 10 p.m., Tuesday, according to Johnson. He said she is not capable of driving.

"We don't know where she went," he said, adding that her departure may be in reference to "medical issues" she was trying to avoid.

Johnson listed Monk as 5-foot, 1 inch tall, 150 pounds and black shoulder-length hair. Her roommate was unable to provide a clothing description.

http://www2.highlandstoday.com/content/2008/dec/10/sheriffs-deputies-continue-search-missing-woman/

[Faith]

published: Wednesday, December 10, 2008

UPDATE: Nearly 100 continue search for missing woman

AVON PARK -- More than 75 volunteers, firefighters and police deputies continue searching for a mentally challenged woman.

As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, the search had reached the 10th hour and has covered an estimated 10 square miles.

Though she is mentally challenged, Evelyn Monk, 44, is high-functioning and independent.

She reportedly wandered off from her home some time while her roommate was sleeping, between the hours of 10 p.m. Tuesday and 5 a.m. Wednesday.

Monk, a member of the Ridge Area Arc, is described as 5-foot-1 with black, shoulder-length hair.

Officials believe she is wearing clothes that resemble medical scrubs with a pattern on them, possibly green in color.

Lt. Kenny Johnson of the Highlands County Sheriff's Office said additional help is on the way to join the nearly 100 deputies, firefighters, ARC employees, and volunteers from the college.

"We have a second K-9 en route and a third is probably coming as well," he said Wednesday afternoon. "We have a massive manhunt going on here right now."

If the search continues later into the evening, the Polk County Sheriff's Office will be called to bring in their helicopter.

It has a FLIR (Forward-Looking Infared) system, which works off a heat signature in the dark to search for or track people.

The HCSO airplane has been in the air since 9 a.m., stopping only to refuel.

"We have covered just about all of the Sebring Ridge area ... including all the 'fish' streets and we have gone north past the new (Memorial Elementary) school," Johnson said. "(We have) units working south and units working the Crystal Lake and Lake Denton area, units going south .. we are estimating out at this point a 10 mile radius of ground zero."

http://www.newssun.com/news/1201-tc-missing-arc-woman

[Faith]

published: Wednesday, December 10, 2008

K-9 team searching for missing woman

By TREY CHRISTY

trey.christy@hotmail.com

AVON PARK - At least six members of the Highlands County Sheriff's Office are searching for an endangered adult who wandered away from her home late Tuesday night.

The woman, a mentally challenged member of the Ridge Area Arc, left her home some time after 10 p.m., said HCSO Lt. Kenny Johnson.

By 9 a.m. Wednesday Johnson and the deputies, along with a K-9, have already searched a five-mile radius around the woman's residence.

They have been working since 5 a.m., when the woman was reported missing by her roommate, who is also mentally challenged.

"The roommate got up, noticed her missing, and reported it," Johnson said. "We don't even know when she left. He got up ... and she was gone."

The roommate was not able to provide officials with a description of what the woman was wearing, Johnson said.

A physical description of the woman was not immediately available, but Johnson said he would release a picture of the woman if she is not found in the next couple of hours. He did say she was white, and around 42 years of age.

Deputies continue to conduct a grid search of the Sebring Ridge area.

http://www.newssun.com/1210-Memorial-and-Valerie

[gabby]

I hope they find her.

[sarahhod]

published: Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Update: Search continues for missing AP woman


http://www.newssun.com/news/1211-missing-woman-update

By TREY CHRISTY

trey.christy@newssun.com

http://i36.tinypic.com/2rzzby9.jpg

AVON PARK -- As night crept up on Highlands County, the search continued for a missing local woman.

"The (Polk County Sheriff's Office) helicopter just left (from Polk County) about five minutes ago," said Lt. Kenny Johnson of the Highlands County Sheriff's Office just after 8:30 Wednesday evening. "At this point volunteers have been going since 6 or 7 this morning. They can go home and rest and we can resume in the morning."

The night shift has taken over, he said, thrusting 13 fresh deputies into the search.

More than 75 volunteers, firefighters and police deputies looked for the mentally challenged woman since they were notified she was missing, at about 5 a.m.

Though she is mentally challenged, Evelyn Monk, 44, a member of the Ridge Area Arc, is high-functioning and independent.

She reportedly wandered off from her home off of Grouper Drive some time while her roommate was sleeping, between the hours of 10 p.m. Tuesday and 5 a.m. Wednesday.

Monk is described as 5-foot-1 with black, shoulder-length hair.

Officials believe she is wearing clothes that resemble medical scrubs with a pattern on them, possibly green in color.

As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, the search had covered an estimated 10 square miles.

"They have searched the entire area and negative," Johnson said.

The HCSO setup the Mobile Command Post at 10 a.m. next to Monk's residence.

Earlier in the day officials were optimistic when a sighting was reported at the Lakeshore Mall, but it was over an hour before it was relayed to deputies.

"We've had all those people at the mall searching the mall property and the points north and west," he said. "They even fanned out to Sebring Hills."

The News-Sun continues to follow the search as it unfolds and will continue to update the web site as new information becomes available.

[sarahhod]

Sheriff's Deputies Continue Search For Missing Woman

http://www2.highlandstoday.com/content/2008/dec/10/sheriffs-deputies-continue-search-missing-woman/


By BRAD DICKERSON

Highlands Today

Published: December 10, 2008

SEBRING - The Highlands County Sheriff's Office is bringing in additional law enforcement officials to assist in their search for a missing woman who is listed as mentally challenged.

HCSO Lt. Kenny Johnson said, in addition to the eight uniformed road patrol deputies already assisting, the office's search airplane is also going to be used.

Johnson said the woman, 44-year-old Evelyn Monk, was reported missing this morning by her roommate, who is also mentally challenged. The two reside in the 2000 block of Grouper Drive.

Monk reportedly left on foot sometime after her roommate went to bed at 10 p.m., Tuesday, according to Johnson. He said she is not capable of driving.

"We don't know where she went," he said, adding that her departure may be in reference to "medical issues" she was trying to avoid.

Johnson listed Monk as 5-foot, 1 inch tall, 150 pounds and black shoulder-length hair. Her roommate was unable to provide a clothing description.

Highlands Today reporter Brad Dickerson can be reached

[sarahhod]

published: Wednesday, December 10, 2008

UPDATE: Nearly 100 continue search for missing woman

http://www.newssun.com/news/1201-tc-missing-arc-woman

By TREY CHRISTY

trey.christy@newssun.com

AVON PARK -- More than 75 volunteers, firefighters and police deputies continue searching for a mentally challenged woman.

As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, the search had reached the 10th hour and has covered an estimated 10 square miles.

Though she is mentally challenged, Evelyn Monk, 44, is high-functioning and independent.

She reportedly wandered off from her home some time while her roommate was sleeping, between the hours of 10 p.m. Tuesday and 5 a.m. Wednesday.

Monk, a member of the Ridge Area Arc, is described as 5-foot-1 with black, shoulder-length hair.

Officials believe she is wearing clothes that resemble medical scrubs with a pattern on them, possibly green in color.

Lt. Kenny Johnson of the Highlands County Sheriff's Office said additional help is on the way to join the nearly 100 deputies, firefighters, ARC employees, and volunteers from the college.

"We have a second K-9 en route and a third is probably coming as well," he said Wednesday afternoon. "We have a massive manhunt going on here right now."

If the search continues later into the evening, the Polk County Sheriff's Office will be called to bring in their helicopter.

It has a FLIR (Forward-Looking Infared) system, which works off a heat signature in the dark to search for or track people.

The HCSO airplane has been in the air since 9 a.m., stopping only to refuel.

"We have covered just about all of the Sebring Ridge area ... including all the 'fish' streets and we have gone north past the new (Memorial Elementary) school," Johnson said. "(We have) units working south and units working the Crystal Lake and Lake Denton area, units going south .. we are estimating out at this point a 10 mile radius of ground zero."

[sarahhod]

published: Wednesday, December 10, 2008

K-9 team searching for missing woman

http://www.newssun.com/1210-Memorial-and-Valerie

By TREY CHRISTY

trey.christy@hotmail.com

AVON PARK - At least six members of the Highlands County Sheriff's Office are searching for an endangered adult who wandered away from her home late Tuesday night.

The woman, a mentally challenged member of the Ridge Area Arc, left her home some time after 10 p.m., said HCSO Lt. Kenny Johnson.

By 9 a.m. Wednesday Johnson and the deputies, along with a K-9, have already searched a five-mile radius around the woman's residence.

They have been working since 5 a.m., when the woman was reported missing by her roommate, who is also mentally challenged.

"The roommate got up, noticed her missing, and reported it," Johnson said. "We don't even know when she left. He got up ... and she was gone."

The roommate was not able to provide officials with a description of what the woman was wearing, Johnson said.

A physical description of the woman was not immediately available, but Johnson said he would release a picture of the woman if she is not found in the next couple of hours. He did say she was white, and around 42 years of age.

Deputies continue to conduct a grid search of the Sebring Ridge area.

[sarahhod]

OMG I really hope Evelyn found somewhere dry and warm last night.

Praying for you Evelyn.

[Grande]

BREAKING NEWS: Missing Woman Returns Home
Brad Dickerson
Published: December 11, 2008

SEBRING - The day-long search for a missing mentally challenged woman ended early this morning after she returned home.

Evelyn Monk, 44, came back to her Grouper Drive home around 4:45 a.m., Thursday, according to Sgt. David Stewart with the Highlands County Sheriff's Office. He added that Monk told authorities she had been in the woods.

"We don't know what woods," Stewart said.

After telling deputies where she had been, Monk closed up and did not talk any more about the specifics of her absence, such as where, exactly, she went and for what reasons, according to Stewart.

EMS responded to Monk's and examined her, concluding that she had no injuries and appeared to be OK.

Her return brings to a close a day-long search that began early Wednesday after deputies received a report that Monk had left the house on foot sometime after 10 p.m., Tuesday.

Monk's roommate, who is also mentally challenged, made the report when he awoke and found her missing.

Numerous road patrols deputies, detectives and even the office's search airplane were involved in the search.

Highlands Today reporter Brad Dickerson can be reached at (863) 386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com

http://www2.highlandstoday.com/content/2008/dec/11/110950/breaking-news-missing-woman-returns-home/

[Amusedtdth]

Good news!

[sarahhod]

published: Thursday, December 11, 2008

UPDATE: Missing woman returns home

http://www.newssun.com/1211-woman-found

By TREY CHRISTY

trey.christy@newssun.com

AVON PARK - Some time during the night a missing woman, who officials were searching for all day Wednesday, returned to her home.

The Highlands County Sheriff's Office were not available to comment, but it was confirmed that she came back to her house on her own.

More than 75 volunteers, firefighters and police deputies looked for the woman, Evelyn Monk, 44, since they were notified she was missing, at about 5 a.m. Wednesday.

Monk, a member of the Ridge Area Arc, is mentally challenged but is high-functioning and independent.

She reportedly left her home off of Grouper Drive some time while her roommate was sleeping, between the hours of 10 p.m. Tuesday and 5 a.m. Wednesday.

As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, the group of volunteers and officials had covered an estimated 10 square miles. When night settled in, the Polk County Sheriff's Office lent their helicopter to the search, and at least three K-9s were also involved.

[sarahhod]

BREAKING NEWS: Missing Woman Returns Home

http://www2.highlandstoday.com/content/2008/dec/11/breaking-news-missing-woman-returns-home/news/




Published: December 11, 2008

SEBRING - The day-long search for a missing mentally challenged woman ended early this morning after she returned home.

Evelyn Monk, 44, came back to her Grouper Drive home around 4:45 a.m., Thursday, according to Sgt. David Stewart with the Highlands County Sheriff's Office. He added that Monk told authorities she had been in the woods.

"We don't know what woods," Stewart said.

After telling deputies where she had been, Monk closed up and did not talk any more about the specifics of her absence, such as where, exactly, she went and for what reasons, according to Stewart.

EMS responded to Monk's and examined her, concluding that she had no injuries and appeared to be OK.

Her return brings to a close a day-long search that began early Wednesday after deputies received a report that Monk had left the house on foot sometime after 10 p.m., Tuesday.

Monk's roommate, who is also mentally challenged, made the report when he awoke and found her missing.

Numerous road patrols deputies, detectives and even the office's search airplane were involved in the search.