lostwithoutyou
Pray for the Missing ♥
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UPDATE-this missing person has been located
Friends, family hold vigil for missing 19-year-old
'This is a hope that Travis will come home. This is better than sitting on the couch and doing nothing.'
BY ANDREW MACKIE
RECORD STAFF WRITER
Sunday, June 17, 2007
CLAREMONT -- On one side of the large, 5-foot tall rock that sits in a field in front of Bunker Hill High School is written “Pray for Travis.”
Another side states, “We love and miss you.”
More than 70 friends and family of Travis Baker gathered around the rock at dusk Saturday for a candlelight vigil to pray for the safe return of the missing 19-year-old.
Travis has not been seen or heard from since April 16. Police received more than 50 leads, but turned up nothing. Investigators from the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office expect foul play is involved.
But those who love Travis said they met Saturday in a show of hope, not as a memorial.
“We just decided to do something,” said Jerry Sigmon, whose son, Jerry Jr., had attended school with Travis since kindergarten. “We’re tired of riding the roads and looking. What better thing to do than pray? Prayer is the most powerful thing. This is a hope that Travis will come home. This is better than sitting on the couch and doing nothing.”
Pastor Scott Johnson of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Conover led the group in prayer. That was followed by the reading of Bible verse John 4:14: “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to him, he heareth us.”
The 20-minute ceremony ended with the song “Amazing Grace” and the reciting of the Lord’s Prayer.
“You have the prayers of many that you would bring Travis back to us,” Sigmon said as he led a prayer. He finished by telling the group to keep their eyes and ears open.
“The worst part of this is not having any clues or news,” he said. “But we’re not giving up on Travis. We’re not doing this because we think Travis is dead. We still have hope.”
Dozens of people placed lighted candles at the rock’s base. Some wrote messages. Most of those gathered stayed for at least another 15 minutes, talking about Travis and hugging his parents, Dwayne and Patricia, and his girlfriend, Hallie.
“This lets me know that Travis is still thought and cared about by teachers, friends and family,” Dwayne said. “We’re still hoping and praying. Keep looking. Travis is a good kid.”
A car show is planned June 23 at the Hardee’s in Conover from noon to 9 p.m. Proceeds from the event will go to Travis’s family.
Travis is white, 6 feet tall, weighs about 165 pounds, has two flame tattoos on his arms and BAKER spelled across his back.
His vehicle is also missing. It is a 1998, two-door red Chevrolet Camaro, license plate number WRP8627.
Anyone with information should call the sheriff’s office at 465-8301.
amackie@hickoryrecord.com | 322-4510 x5407 or 304-6914
http://www.hickoryrecord.com/servle...DR_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173351674076
Friends, family hold vigil for missing 19-year-old
'This is a hope that Travis will come home. This is better than sitting on the couch and doing nothing.'
BY ANDREW MACKIE
RECORD STAFF WRITER
Sunday, June 17, 2007
CLAREMONT -- On one side of the large, 5-foot tall rock that sits in a field in front of Bunker Hill High School is written “Pray for Travis.”
Another side states, “We love and miss you.”
More than 70 friends and family of Travis Baker gathered around the rock at dusk Saturday for a candlelight vigil to pray for the safe return of the missing 19-year-old.
Travis has not been seen or heard from since April 16. Police received more than 50 leads, but turned up nothing. Investigators from the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office expect foul play is involved.
But those who love Travis said they met Saturday in a show of hope, not as a memorial.
“We just decided to do something,” said Jerry Sigmon, whose son, Jerry Jr., had attended school with Travis since kindergarten. “We’re tired of riding the roads and looking. What better thing to do than pray? Prayer is the most powerful thing. This is a hope that Travis will come home. This is better than sitting on the couch and doing nothing.”
Pastor Scott Johnson of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Conover led the group in prayer. That was followed by the reading of Bible verse John 4:14: “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to him, he heareth us.”
The 20-minute ceremony ended with the song “Amazing Grace” and the reciting of the Lord’s Prayer.
“You have the prayers of many that you would bring Travis back to us,” Sigmon said as he led a prayer. He finished by telling the group to keep their eyes and ears open.
“The worst part of this is not having any clues or news,” he said. “But we’re not giving up on Travis. We’re not doing this because we think Travis is dead. We still have hope.”
Dozens of people placed lighted candles at the rock’s base. Some wrote messages. Most of those gathered stayed for at least another 15 minutes, talking about Travis and hugging his parents, Dwayne and Patricia, and his girlfriend, Hallie.
“This lets me know that Travis is still thought and cared about by teachers, friends and family,” Dwayne said. “We’re still hoping and praying. Keep looking. Travis is a good kid.”
A car show is planned June 23 at the Hardee’s in Conover from noon to 9 p.m. Proceeds from the event will go to Travis’s family.
Travis is white, 6 feet tall, weighs about 165 pounds, has two flame tattoos on his arms and BAKER spelled across his back.
His vehicle is also missing. It is a 1998, two-door red Chevrolet Camaro, license plate number WRP8627.
Anyone with information should call the sheriff’s office at 465-8301.
amackie@hickoryrecord.com | 322-4510 x5407 or 304-6914
http://www.hickoryrecord.com/servle...DR_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173351674076
