Hi guys. I am Phoebe's stepmother. Darthmike616 is my husband, Phoebe's father.
We appreciate the interest and concern for Phoebe's case. We understand the questions and confusion because we are feeling all of that, too. We get conflicting info about where she is, why she is here or there, which side of town she is on, why she disappeared in the first place, etc.
The story, as I know it:
Phoebe was at our house with her kids from June 10-14. They were supposed to be here for the long-term, but she decided she needed to go to Indianapolis to "visit friends" (we live in southern Indiana, just across the river from Louisville, KY, which is about 100 miles or a 2 hour drive from Indy) and was expected back on June 15 or 16 (when she told us she was leaving, she asked me if I could pick her up "tomorrow or the next day"). Her husband picked up the kids from my house on the evening of June 14. Phoebe left with someone else, maybe 30 minutes after her husband left with the kids. That is the last time WE saw her, and the last time she saw her kids. I don't know who Phoebe left with, and I could kick myself for not going outside while she waited for her ride. I was texting with her from right before until a little bit after she left. I asked her who picked her up and she gave me a (female) name I had never heard mention of before. We haven't figured out who actually picked her up and no one else, including her mother and her husband, has heard of the person she named. That was the last time I spoke to her. My husband was texting with her on June 16, his birthday and the last time Phoebe was known to be seen.
On the evening of June 16, Phoebe was with "friends" at their apartment on the south side of Indy. She called her mother to tell her she was on her way over, but she never showed up. One of these "friends" has changed her story at least 3 times. We have it in print. One "friend" has told a lie that is just ridiculous--he said one of Phoebe's family members drove Phoebe to him to get money, but this family member doesn't drive and was out of town that entire week. Her mother contacted me on Saturday, June 19, to ask if we had spoken to her. Her husband reached out on the 20th, Father's Day, to ask of we had talked to her. Her mother filed a missing persons report on Father's Day.
A social worker went to Phoebe's husband's house on June 22, I believe, to see if Phoebe was there. She said she searched every inch of the house, even opening all cupboards and drawers, but Phoebe was not there. I don't know what Phoebe's husband had or hadn't said to this person, but she was unaware that Phoebe was missing. We do not suspect her husband did anything, for the record. He was living with his father in Terre Haute, which is about 45 minutes to an hour away from Indy, and Phoebe just would not have had an opportunity to meet up with him. There are other, more intimate, details that help bolster my belief that he didn't have anything to do with this, but we are not sharing that publicly at this time.
She went missing from the area of Thompson Road and US 31 South/East Street on the south side of Indy (that's where the "friends" apartment is) but our most recent alleged sightings of her have been on the east side, near 21st and Shadeland. None of the sightings have been by anyone who knows her. We go look on weekends, Phoebe's mother has friends out looking nearly every day and night, we are putting up flyers, posting on Facebook daily, etc.
Wednesday marked 6 weeks since she disappeared. She has NEVER been away from her kids this long, or without explanation. She has never gone more than a day or two without checking on them. And that is only because they are with us for the weekend, with her mother, etc, never because she ran off. The last time I spoke to her, she was very concerned about being allowed to come back to our house. We told her that as long as we have a roof over our heads, she and her babies do, too. The last text he sent my husband was something like, "I'll do what ever I have to do to support my kids." She was making plans to get her license, to go job hunting with my 21yo son so they could ride together, etc. Those aren't the words and actions of someone who is planning to abandon her three children.
Oh, and yes, Phoebe has been diagnosed as being bipolar. She used to take meds for it. I am not sure if she is supposed to be taking meds now, but she isn't taking anything. She has also never had an episode of any sort because of it. We know that doesn't mean she never will/would.
The cemetery pix. Phoebe is into black. Phoebe is into dark stuff (not dangerous or criminal, I just mean that she likes emo, punk, Gothic, etc, kinds of things). She isn't a hard core criminal or gangster. Phoebe is funny, smart, talented (she is SUCH a great artist!), beautiful, kind,all the things. She has had a rough time for a little while now and needs to be with the people who love her and support her and who will guide her in the right direction.
She has not gone to a salon. Phoebe has no money, first of all. And her mother is a trained hairdresser. She would not let anyone but her mother touch her hair. Everything she does like hair and makeup stuff, she does it herself or her mother does it for her. Phoebe is not out there living a glamorous life of freedom without her kids. Her oldest daughter turned 4 on July 3 and Phoebe wasn't there to celebrate with her. We were just SURE she would be home in time for her daughter's birthday. It was hard for me when that date came and went and Phoebe didn't show up. That is when it really hit me. Now I just feel like a zombie all the time. I don't eat right, don't sleep right, I am miserable. I met Phoebe when she was 8 years old and I have loved her since that day. I couldn't love her more if I had given birth to her myself. She and my 21yo son are BFF's and we have 13yo and 14yo sons at home who love Phoebe dearly (we have a son about to turn 26, Phoebe is 23, then my 21yo, 14yo, and 13yo--Phoebe is the only older sibling they like. Haha!). They are very worried about her. But the bit that gets to me the most is those babies. they are 4y, 2.5y, and 7m. They need their mommy to come home.
I tried to address as many of the questions and issues as I could remember. I will answer anything you've got, as long as it isn't something that needs to be confidential for now (or forever).
Thanks again for your interest and concern with Phoebe's case. We appreciate everyone who is praying, sharing Facebook posts, putting up flyers, web sleuthing, etc. I know that one of these days very soon, we WILL find her and bring her home!
