I have pasted below the new story from yesterdays edition of the Lubbock AJ:
Story last updated at 7:41 a.m. Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Investigators closer to solving year-long disappearance
BY JASON WOMACK
AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
A year after Jennifer Wilkerson disappeared from her south Lubbock County home, deputies say they are inching closer to resolving the case that has thwarted investigators and devastated her parents.
Although the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office remains tight-lipped about the details of the investigation, officials have identified but would not name "persons of interest" in the case.
"When Jennifer disappeared, mistakes were made," Greg Parrott with the Sheriff's Office said. "Crime cannot occur in a vacuum. We are very close to exploiting those mistakes made by the individual or individuals responsible for her disappearance."
Wilkerson, 27, vanished from her home a year ago today, leaving behind her keys and her car.
Wilkerson
Her home remained undisturbed, as if she walked away voluntarily.
Since that day, the Sheriff's Office and volunteer organizations have conducted four large-scale searches - three in Lubbock and a fourth in New Mexico - to no avail.
While Parrott acknowledges Wilkerson may have left on her own accord, he does not believe it.
"Based on our information, we feel like Jennifer may have met with foul play," he said.
Jennifer's parents, Jack and Vikki Wilkerson of Hobbs, N.M., said they will hope for Jennifer's safe return until they know the facts.
Jennifer Lynn Wilkersonn Was last seen July 13, 2004, in the 2400 block of 118th Street.
She was wearing a red halter top, denim capri pants and black flip-flops.
Wilkerson is a slim 5 feet, 5 inches tall with short brown and red hair and blue eyes.
She has tattoos on her shoulder, right wrist, right ankle and her stomach.
Anyone with information concerning Wilkerson's disappearance should contact the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office at 775-1601.
"Until somebody can give me some evidence," Jack Wilkerson said, "I have to keep an open mind."
Since her daughter's disappearance, Vikki Wilkerson hasn't slept well. When she does, Jennifer will occasionally visit her in dreams.
"Every time, I'm hugging her and everything is OK," she said.
A year later, grief still flows over the Wilkersons in waves.
"One day you just feel great," Vikki Wilkerson said. "The next you think 'what the hell happened.' "
Jack Wilkerson pauses for a moment as his wife dabs the tears from her eyes.
"There's no consistency in life anymore," he said. "Sometimes you just feel like you put your life in neutral."
The Wilkersons will not go to work this week. They plan to spend their time at home.
They never know what the next day will bring, but they will try to remember happy things.
Vikki Wilkerson encouraged those who know her daughter to do the same.
"I'd like for everybody to take some time to celebrate her," she said. "(Jennifer) will be here with us that way."
She lights a candle for her daughter every night - a ritual she will continue until Jennifer is found.
"I have to build my world where she is OK," she said.
She pulls one of several pictures of her daughter from her purse.
Jennifer is wearing a string of beads around her neck. At the center of the necklace is a small mustard seed.
It is one of her favorite things, her mother says as she struggles to recall the Bible verse: "If you have faith as a mustard seed ... nothing will be impossible for you."
The Wilkersons will keep their faith that Jennifer will be found.
"I know the people responsible for Jen's disappearance think they got away with something," Vikki Wilkerson said. "But they haven't. They're being watched."
Parrott also issued a warning.
"We know of several individuals that know what happened to Jennifer," he said. "These people need to come forward before they themselves are implicated."
Story last updated at 7:41 a.m. Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Investigators closer to solving year-long disappearance
BY JASON WOMACK
AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
A year after Jennifer Wilkerson disappeared from her south Lubbock County home, deputies say they are inching closer to resolving the case that has thwarted investigators and devastated her parents.
Although the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office remains tight-lipped about the details of the investigation, officials have identified but would not name "persons of interest" in the case.
"When Jennifer disappeared, mistakes were made," Greg Parrott with the Sheriff's Office said. "Crime cannot occur in a vacuum. We are very close to exploiting those mistakes made by the individual or individuals responsible for her disappearance."
Wilkerson, 27, vanished from her home a year ago today, leaving behind her keys and her car.
Wilkerson
Her home remained undisturbed, as if she walked away voluntarily.
Since that day, the Sheriff's Office and volunteer organizations have conducted four large-scale searches - three in Lubbock and a fourth in New Mexico - to no avail.
While Parrott acknowledges Wilkerson may have left on her own accord, he does not believe it.
"Based on our information, we feel like Jennifer may have met with foul play," he said.
Jennifer's parents, Jack and Vikki Wilkerson of Hobbs, N.M., said they will hope for Jennifer's safe return until they know the facts.
Jennifer Lynn Wilkersonn Was last seen July 13, 2004, in the 2400 block of 118th Street.
She was wearing a red halter top, denim capri pants and black flip-flops.
Wilkerson is a slim 5 feet, 5 inches tall with short brown and red hair and blue eyes.
She has tattoos on her shoulder, right wrist, right ankle and her stomach.
Anyone with information concerning Wilkerson's disappearance should contact the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office at 775-1601.
"Until somebody can give me some evidence," Jack Wilkerson said, "I have to keep an open mind."
Since her daughter's disappearance, Vikki Wilkerson hasn't slept well. When she does, Jennifer will occasionally visit her in dreams.
"Every time, I'm hugging her and everything is OK," she said.
A year later, grief still flows over the Wilkersons in waves.
"One day you just feel great," Vikki Wilkerson said. "The next you think 'what the hell happened.' "
Jack Wilkerson pauses for a moment as his wife dabs the tears from her eyes.
"There's no consistency in life anymore," he said. "Sometimes you just feel like you put your life in neutral."
The Wilkersons will not go to work this week. They plan to spend their time at home.
They never know what the next day will bring, but they will try to remember happy things.
Vikki Wilkerson encouraged those who know her daughter to do the same.
"I'd like for everybody to take some time to celebrate her," she said. "(Jennifer) will be here with us that way."
She lights a candle for her daughter every night - a ritual she will continue until Jennifer is found.
"I have to build my world where she is OK," she said.
She pulls one of several pictures of her daughter from her purse.
Jennifer is wearing a string of beads around her neck. At the center of the necklace is a small mustard seed.
It is one of her favorite things, her mother says as she struggles to recall the Bible verse: "If you have faith as a mustard seed ... nothing will be impossible for you."
The Wilkersons will keep their faith that Jennifer will be found.
"I know the people responsible for Jen's disappearance think they got away with something," Vikki Wilkerson said. "But they haven't. They're being watched."
Parrott also issued a warning.
"We know of several individuals that know what happened to Jennifer," he said. "These people need to come forward before they themselves are implicated."
