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We have a friend missing and could use all the prayers that we can get.
Michelle Parker search: Family members, friends searching for missing Orlando-area mom Michelle Parker - OrlandoSentinel.com
Authorities set up a command post south of downtown Orlando on Saturday afternoon, where volunteers gathered during a search for missing Geneva mom Michelle Parker. (David Breen, Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando police are looking for 33-year-old Michelle Parker, who went missing on Thursday
By David Breen, Orlando Sentinel
5:18 p.m. EST, November 20, 2011
A well-known non-profit search and recovery team has joined the search for a missing Orlando mother of three, who disappeared Thursday.
Volunteers from Texas Equusearch, which garnered fame in its role in the search for Caylee Anthony, arrived in Orlando Saturday night, linking up with dozens of Michelle Loree Parker's friends and family already engaged in looking for her south of downtown, family said.
More than 100 people gathered at the former Jesse Black's Saloon on 333 E. Oak Ridge Road both Saturday and Sunday, where a donated camper serves as headquarters for the search effort.
"I got good hope she's alive," said Parker's father Brad Erickson, who said his daughter once worked at the now-closed business in west Orlando.
"It's going well, and we've got a lot of volunteers," said Orlando police Sgt. Rich Lane
Parker, 33, was last heard from late Thursday afternoon, when a text message indicated she was in the Waterford Lakes area. Her Hummer sport utility vehicle was recovered Friday on the west side of Orlando, police said.
Parker's brother Dustin Erickson said Sunday that detectives are trying to determine where the Hummer SUV was traveling between 4 p.m. Thursday and 12 a.m. Friday, before it was dumped. The vehicle did have an On Star system but it was not activated, he said.
The search has organized around the old saloon because police learned that Parker's phone was powered off in that area Thursday night, family members said.
Officers are looking for Parker's iPhone, which may be in the area.
Volunteers were collected into groups and told where to focus their foot search. Maps in the camper helped organizers keep track of what areas have been searched.
Police detectives accompanied the volunteers on their walks. Orange County sheriff's dogs in their handlers also joined the effort, as did volunteers who brought their own all-terrain vehicles.
Parker is 5-feet-5 with short brown hair. A Geneva resident, she was last seen wearing a blue Florida Gators hoodie and jeans.
On Thursday, she appeared on an episode of "The People's Court" TV show — taped months ago — with an ex-boyfriend who is the father of her 3-year-old twins. The couple had a tumultuous relationship that was at times violent. Family members think Parker was carjacked and do not think her ex-boyfriend was involved in her disappearance.
"He's been completely cooperative [with the investigation]," Lauren Erickson, Michelle's sister, said of the ex-boyfriend.
"There's no one focus [to the search]," Erickson said. "There's no tunnel vision. All information is welcome."
Searchers are well stocked for the time being with food and water, but other donations are welcome. There's a particular need for gasoline, ice, coolers and trash cans.
"I'm extremely thankful for all the generous donations," said Parker's brother. The response "has been more than I could have asked for."
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Orlando police or Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477.
dbreen@tribune.com
Michelle Parker search: Family members, friends searching for missing Orlando-area mom Michelle Parker - OrlandoSentinel.com
Authorities set up a command post south of downtown Orlando on Saturday afternoon, where volunteers gathered during a search for missing Geneva mom Michelle Parker. (David Breen, Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando police are looking for 33-year-old Michelle Parker, who went missing on Thursday
By David Breen, Orlando Sentinel
5:18 p.m. EST, November 20, 2011
A well-known non-profit search and recovery team has joined the search for a missing Orlando mother of three, who disappeared Thursday.
Volunteers from Texas Equusearch, which garnered fame in its role in the search for Caylee Anthony, arrived in Orlando Saturday night, linking up with dozens of Michelle Loree Parker's friends and family already engaged in looking for her south of downtown, family said.
More than 100 people gathered at the former Jesse Black's Saloon on 333 E. Oak Ridge Road both Saturday and Sunday, where a donated camper serves as headquarters for the search effort.
"I got good hope she's alive," said Parker's father Brad Erickson, who said his daughter once worked at the now-closed business in west Orlando.
"It's going well, and we've got a lot of volunteers," said Orlando police Sgt. Rich Lane
Parker, 33, was last heard from late Thursday afternoon, when a text message indicated she was in the Waterford Lakes area. Her Hummer sport utility vehicle was recovered Friday on the west side of Orlando, police said.
Parker's brother Dustin Erickson said Sunday that detectives are trying to determine where the Hummer SUV was traveling between 4 p.m. Thursday and 12 a.m. Friday, before it was dumped. The vehicle did have an On Star system but it was not activated, he said.
The search has organized around the old saloon because police learned that Parker's phone was powered off in that area Thursday night, family members said.
Officers are looking for Parker's iPhone, which may be in the area.
Volunteers were collected into groups and told where to focus their foot search. Maps in the camper helped organizers keep track of what areas have been searched.
Police detectives accompanied the volunteers on their walks. Orange County sheriff's dogs in their handlers also joined the effort, as did volunteers who brought their own all-terrain vehicles.
Parker is 5-feet-5 with short brown hair. A Geneva resident, she was last seen wearing a blue Florida Gators hoodie and jeans.
On Thursday, she appeared on an episode of "The People's Court" TV show — taped months ago — with an ex-boyfriend who is the father of her 3-year-old twins. The couple had a tumultuous relationship that was at times violent. Family members think Parker was carjacked and do not think her ex-boyfriend was involved in her disappearance.
"He's been completely cooperative [with the investigation]," Lauren Erickson, Michelle's sister, said of the ex-boyfriend.
"There's no one focus [to the search]," Erickson said. "There's no tunnel vision. All information is welcome."
Searchers are well stocked for the time being with food and water, but other donations are welcome. There's a particular need for gasoline, ice, coolers and trash cans.
"I'm extremely thankful for all the generous donations," said Parker's brother. The response "has been more than I could have asked for."
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Orlando police or Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477.
dbreen@tribune.com
