Abby Lynn Patterson is one of 20 missing people being searched for by the Lumberton Police Department.
Patterson was last seen Sept. 5, 2017, getting into a brown Buick in the area of East Ninth Street in Lumberton, according to the police department. There is a $10,000 reward for information about the location of Patterson.
Patterson’s mother, Samantha Lovette, manages the Find Abby Facebook page, which has more than 4,900 followers.
As many people celebrated Mother’s Day on Sunday, Lovette shared an emotional post on the page.
“I have to live every single day of my life not knowing where you are. My heart has never known this kind of heartache and emptiness. I wasn’t ready for you to be snatched from me and then not know what happened,” the post reads in part.
“There are no words for describing the pain I feel, the pain I feel like I have to block in order to go on day to day. The pain I block to keep me from feeling my heart is literally breaking. My faith is strong and I Know God and my love for you will prevail. We will Find you my sweet Abby!!” Lovette wrote.
Lovette told The Robesonian on Monday that she and Patterson, who was 20 when she disappeared, were very close and communicated often before her disappearance. If Patterson’s phone battery died, she would tell Lovette to prevent her mother from worrying.
“The day she went missing she told me she would be back in a hour, that she was with old high school friends and for me not to worry. After a hour had passed her phone went straight to voicemail. Abby left with someone she trusted. Abby’s plan was to come back home that day,” she said.
Lovette said her daughter “loves life and loves making people laugh.” She also described Patterson as a “free spirit” who can light up a room.
“She has a tattoo of 3 black birds on her shoulder and a large, tan birthmark on the back of her left thigh,” according to a post by Lovette on the Find Abby page.
Law enforcement agencies conducted a search in July 2018 in a pond off Alamac Road but did not locate Patterson.
Interviews continue and additional searches are being conducted, according to Lumberton police officials. A search was conducted about one month ago.
“The family members want the same thing (as police do),” Lumberton Chief of Police Mike McNeill said.
“They haven’t given up, and we haven’t given up,” he added.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation continues to assist in the case. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Patterson is asked to call the FBI at 704-672-6100 or the Lumberton Police Department at 910-671-3845.
Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins urges the public to reach out to law enforcement agencies and share any information that can lead to the location of missing people.
“It is imperative that anyone with information on these cases speak up,” Wilkins said.
“Imagine a loved one of yours missing and information was being withheld by someone who refuses to disclose the clue that could solve or locate a missing person. Regardless of when it occurred, our office continues to ask for assistance from anyone that can help solve these cases and bring forth closure to a grieving family. Do the right thing and speak out now,” a statement from Wilkins reads in part.
