Dozens of people gathered tonight at the softball complex in Chesterfield County where Kelly Catalano liked to play, to show support for their missing friend.
Catalano, 40, a Chesterfield resident, disappeared Friday morning after she told co-workers at BluePrint Automation in the 16000 block of Innovation Drive that she was going for a walk.
Chesterfield police have been searching the surrounding area but have found no trace of her.
Catalano's older sister, Judy Williams, and more than 50 friends, co-workers and relatives stood in the rain at Harry G. Daniel Park off Iron Bridge Road, talked about her, recited a prayer that she liked, and appealed to the public for help.
"Somebody out there knows where she is, and we're asking for their help to find her," Williams said.
Speakers at the vigil said there was no reason for Catalano to leave suddenly about 10:30 a.m. and not tell anyone where she was going.
Catalano had her car keys and cell phone with her, but her car remained in the company parking lot. Police checked her phone and bank records but saw no activity.
State police divers searched the nearby inlet of the Appomattox River yesterday but found nothing.
Two of Catalano's six siblings and her nephew came from northern Pennsylvania, where she grew up, and are staying in an area hotel until she is found. They passed out fliers with Catalano's picture and asked local business owners and residents to call police with any leads.
Numerous co-workers from BluePrint Automation came to the vigil, as did members of Catalano's softball team.
Tom O'Connell, 60, the company's controller, said he was very surprised and saddened by her disappearance.
"She's an excellent welder. She's been here eight years," he said.
Gina Desimone, who organized the vigil, said Catalano played first base and hit lots of home runs; loved the outdoors, yoga, and ballroom dancing; and was "a very giving, generous, warm-spirited person."
She saw Catalano the night before her disappearance, after a yoga class that Catalano attended.
"She's extremely loyal to the company she works for and really believes in accountability," Desimone said.
"It's not like her."
Anyone with information on Catalano's whereabouts can call Chesterfield police at (804) 748-1251 or Crime Solvers at (804) 748-0660.