Found Deceased FL - Stephanie Chitwood Hollingsworth, 50, Belle Isle, 25 Sept 2020

[akazia1978]

As a recovering alcoholic, I can say that sometimes the reason for the can of soda is to pour it mostly full of alcohol, maybe a touch of soda left. It's more to disguise your drinking from others as you can't walk around swigging out of a vodka bottle, but no one notices a soda MOO. Forget about smelling like it etc, usually if you are in a certain stage you think you may have others fooled. Anyway, the above was my logic to be able to take a couple of sips at work or out and about to cover up my drinking and ward off the shakes if I didn't. Coffee was another go to of mine to tip stuff in so I could function throughout the day. I also used cash only, multiple liquor stores etc so no one could quite gather the extent and the amount I was drinking. Strictly MOO and no idea if this applies to her at all, just my reasoning for what you mentioned.

 

[oviedo]

Yup - find the vehicle, you will locate SH. Swapped out plates is the only explanation for no toll activity, IMO. I'm not sure if they search intersection cameras by plate number only -- I'd think this would be done visually for a lost, endangered person.

Its very common when cars are stolen, especially in Florida, that the plates are changed with other plates to avoid detection. Happened with my mothers vehicle when it was stolen out other driveway in Florida last year.

so the question would be if the vehicle was stolen and the plates were swapped out - did they remove the transponder too? or did the vehicle not have one?

 

[AngryA]

So we have a popular, long term (happily)? married woman with 3 boys she adores. She leaves the house with no mobile phone (some ppl don't take their phone everywhere, I don't) at approx 1 -1.30pm, leaving behind her in the house her teenage son and husband.

She takes her purse and drives a pretty big, noticeable car to a local cash point and withdraws 20 dollars (is that all she had/all she needed or was her bank account controlled by her husband and that was all she was allowed)? She was then filmed in a local store buying a bottle of vodka and a can of soda (still pondering the can of soda for a bottle of vodka)? Perhaps she didn't like straight vodka but with 1 can she could dilute it and then yeehahh I'm drunk and don't care how it tastes anymore? If she was an alcoholic I don't imagine her driving too far to sit/enjoy/escape for a short while or was she drinking whilst she was driving, just swigging it behind the wheel trying to get away from home and responsibilities forever?

Alot would come down to her frame of mind THAT day - I don't think if she wanted anything bad to happen and planned on going home she would have driven too far, alcoholics get bad press as people think they are out of control drunks with no cares in the world. They can also be very responsible people and can maintain jobs/their homelife ie functioning alcoholic which I believe she was.

Sorry if I have details wrong in this post - I guess I'm trying to post what she may have been going through THAT day

It appears that she had an alcohol problem and it looks like she was in the process of seeking treatment. I can't figure out how to make the photo rotate but Larry Miles stated that she had a "Go Bag" ready to check into a treatment center. She did not have this bag on her when she left to go to the store. There doesn't seem to be a confirmed sighting that puts her all the way out by Lake Nona HS.

 

[mspuurfect]

As a recovering alcoholic, I can say that sometimes the reason for the can of soda is to pour it mostly full of alcohol, maybe a touch of soda left. It's more to disguise your drinking from others as you can't walk around swigging out of a vodka bottle, but no one notices a soda MOO. Forget about smelling like it etc, usually if you are in a certain stage you think you may have others fooled. Anyway, the above was my logic to be able to take a couple of sips at work or out and about to cover up my drinking and ward off the shakes if I didn't. Coffee was another go to of mine to tip stuff in so I could function throughout the day. I also used cash only, multiple liquor stores etc so no one could quite gather the extent and the amount I was drinking. Strictly MOO and no idea if this applies to her at all, just my reasoning for what you mentioned.

Thanks for your honest post and that makes so much sense, I don't think she intended anything bad to happen, perhaps that was a NORMAL kinda day in which she had planned to meet her son from school or some other activity? JMO Also everyone else totally agree - why hasn't her car been spotted and found??

 

[mspuurfect]

It appears that she had an alcohol problem and it looks like she was in the process of seeking treatment. I can't figure out how to make the photo rotate but Larry Miles stated that she had a "Go Bag" ready to check into a treatment center. She did not have this bag on her when she left to go to the store. There doesn't seem to be a confirmed sighting that puts her all the way out by Lake Nona HS.

Any idea of the date she was to be booked into the treatment centre?

 

[AngryA]

Any idea of the date she was to be booked into the treatment centre?[/QUOTE
No. I did not see that information posted anywhere.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Florida's open container law means if she wanted to drink while driving, she needed to pour the soda out, and the alcohol in. Hopefully, her intent was to not drink and drive. Perhaps she was headed somewhere she felt comfortable, have her drink, then pick up her kids from school, go home, prep for whatever lay ahead to get her life under control.

Really think this is a water or woods situation. Even in broad daylight, without alcohol, one can lose control of their vehicle and end up in a secluded area.

 

[AngryA]

Press release

 

[Tori1]

I wish I were tech-savvy enough to post the actual photo here...they're calling it silver, I believe it is technically chevy's "light pewter metallic," which is a warm silver. Another poster here described it as champagne, it's silver leaning towards gold. It's a very large, clunky vehicle by today's standards. It should be easy to spot, especially by law enforcement officers who know exactly what they're looking for, which makes it even more concerning that it hasn't been seen in the area. There is a photo of the vehicle in this article:
Volunteer search underway for missing Belle Isle woman
Edited by me for clarity

Yes the page has a lot going on including a very detailed graphic on the vehicle - Photo with defining features called out.

Also of note: drone teams reportedly could see to the bottom of several of the water areas searched. Which I found interesting and very helpful for clearing those sites of interest.

Between LE and massive volunteer searches by air, drone, and foot, as well as some water searches by LE, it is really striking that the vehicle has not been found. I hope satellite help comes forward.

The family is reportedly stumped on why she may have headed south after the store (so no on the school event suggestion). But please note, after mentioning the tip and the high school a couple days ago, the family did not mention heading south on Narcoose in yesterday’s press conference. They focused on the Walmart as the last solidly confirmed location. Take from that what you will.

I read some stuff posted from

It appears that she had an alcohol problem and it looks like she was in the process of seeking treatment. I can't figure out how to make the photo rotate but Larry Miles stated that she had a "Go Bag" ready to check into a treatment center. She did not have this bag on her when she left to go to the store. There doesn't seem to be a confirmed sighting that puts her all the way out by Lake Nona HS.

What's weird if she was seeking treatment why would she be making drinks for her husband and son wouldn't they respect her decision it would take a strong person to not be tempted I understand the partner could still continue drinking it would be rough with no support and the temptation just going to rehab not going to fix it's a life long battle of wanting to change I don't understand how they know what she has by saying she didn't take the bag it dosent seem like she was going to rehab buying vodka it seems she had second thoughts it's seem like secrets were being kept I wish she be in a rehab somewhere and found safe

 

[mspuurfect]

I read some stuff posted from

What's weird if she was seeking treatment why would she be making drinks for her husband and son wouldn't they respect her decision it would take a strong person to not be tempted I understand the partner could still continue drinking it would be rough with no support and the temptation just going to rehab not going to fix it's a life long battle of wanting to change I don't understand how they know what she has by saying she didn't take the bag it dosent seem like she was going to rehab buying vodka it seems she had second thoughts it's seem like secrets were being kept I wish she be in a rehab somewhere and found safe

I think she would be making drinks and lunches as a 'functioning alcoholic'. You do what needs done and then you can 'relax' a bit on your own. I would think their would be tensions in the home as an alcoholic, even functioning, can be selfish and difficult to deal with. The family may well have been at their wits end and perhaps forced her to make a very difficult choice - alcohol or us? In no way am I saying the family is to blame but perhaps the threat of being sent away to rehab was too much for her to handle?

Don't mean that as a suicide btw but more of a 'well let me enjoy my final drink' kind of way.

 

[Tori1]

I think she would be making drinks and lunches as a 'functioning alcoholic'. You do what needs done and then you can 'relax' a bit on your own. I would think their would be tensions in the home as an alcoholic, even functioning, can be selfish and difficult to deal with. The family may well have been at their wits end and perhaps forced her to make a very difficult choice - alcohol or us? In no way am I saying the family is to blame but perhaps the threat of being sent away to rehab was too much for her to handle?

Don't mean that as a suicide btw but more of a 'well let me enjoy my final drink' kind of way.

I don't think so why would it be ok for the husband and son to drink doez not make sense he quoted she was extra nice made them drinks and lunch and later you supposed to go to rehab it obviously wasn't just her drinking it be like everyone is drinking and you try to quit and everyone else keeps doing it in your household it be hard to live that way I wish she would be found safe

 

[Toodles5000]

I don't think so why would it be ok for the husband and son to drink doez not make sense he quoted she was extra nice made them drinks and lunch and later you supposed to go to rehab it obviously wasn't just her drinking it be like everyone is drinking and you try to quit and everyone else keeps doing it in your household it be hard to live that way I wish she would be found safe

I don't think we can assume that the "drinks" she was making for her son & husband contained alcohol. I took that quote as she did what she may have normally done during lunchtime, maybe whipped up some sandwiches and a pitcher of lemonade or iced tea.

 

[mspuurfect]

I don't think so why would it be ok for the husband and son to drink doez not make sense he quoted she was extra nice made them drinks and lunch and later you supposed to go to rehab it obviously wasn't just her drinking it be like everyone is drinking and you try to quit and everyone else keeps doing it in your household it be hard to live that way I wish she would be found safe

Sorry you may have interpreted my post wrongly - I did not mean to imply that SH gave alcoholic drinks to her family at lunch (or anytime) - I just meant that she can function normally as a normal mother and do her chores normally - even being an an alcoholic

 

[Lusitana]

I just found this thread and I read all of it. I find this case very... odd? Stephanie disappeared on September 25 and well, the day before she made this post about her son's 21st birthday. The family went out for a meal and for his first legal drink. Which, seems a bit odd in a setting where the birthday boy's mom is an alcoholic awaiting for a rehab spot, with a bag ready to go. Her posts paint the image of an excited mother, her oldest turned 21, one of her sons got his first car.
I'm not super surprised about her son not noticing her leaving. He was doing remote learning, probably spent most of his time with his nose buried on his computer, especially at the college level.
She is a beautiful lady, and has a beautiful family. Her boys are involved in sports, the oldest his in college, she seems to be super close to her dad.
I don't think she lost a daughter. If that is coming from her Facebook cover, I believe she went on a "mission trip" to Bolivia, met that little girl there and had a special connection with her.
I agree with the posts finding the amount of private information being shared by her husband a little weird, especially because they have two sons in high school. Why make that much stuff public, to the point of mentioning she has a bag ready for her to leave to rehab? Seems a bit much. But, to be honest, what really bothers me is how her husband keeps saying "her family, her children", shouldn't it be "our family, our children"? That is so weird.

 

[oviedo]

I truly believe something more is going on than just a “drunk mom“ as what is being portrayed IMO - who bought vodka at Walmart and disappeared - everyone knows Walmart has cameras don’t they?

why hasn’t LE released any update regarding neighborhood cameras ? To confirm where she wasn’t ?

JMO
Websleuths Was this from last night or for tonight ?
Eta - fix my bad post - I do not believe at this point what is being sold

 

[mspuurfect]

I just found this thread and I read all of it. I find this case very... odd? Stephanie disappeared on September 25 and well, the day before she made this post about her son's 21st birthday. The family went out for a meal and for his first legal drink. Which, seems a bit odd in a setting where the birthday boy's mom is an alcoholic awaiting for a rehab spot, with a bag ready to go. Her posts paint the image of an excited mother, her oldest turned 21, one of her sons got his first car.
I'm not super surprised about her son not noticing her leaving. He was doing remote learning, probably spent most of his time with his nose buried on his computer, especially at the college level.
She is a beautiful lady, and has a beautiful family. Her boys are involved in sports, the oldest his in college, she seems to be super close to her dad.
I don't think she lost a daughter. If that is coming from her Facebook cover, I believe she went on a "mission trip" to Bolivia, met that little girl there and had a special connection with her.
I agree with the posts finding the amount of private information being shared by her husband a little weird, especially because they have two sons in high school. Why make that much stuff public, to the point of mentioning she has a bag ready for her to leave to rehab? Seems a bit much. But, to be honest, what really bothers me is how her husband keeps saying "her family, her children", shouldn't it be "our family, our children"? That is so weird.

So I now feel the headteachers walked into my class but in a good way We will see how this case plays out but are you suggesting foul play by the husband?

 

[Meligator]

Curious, has anyone mentioned if there were guns in the house & if so are they accounted for?

 

[mspuurfect]

I truly believe something more is going on than just a drunk mom who bought vodka at Walmart and disappeared - everyone knows Walmart has camera don’t they?

why hasn’t LE released any update regarding neighborhood cameras ? To confirm where she wasn’t ?

JMO
Websleuths Was this from last night or for tonight ?

I still think she was a great mum and was trying to better herself, and even if she was an alcoholic she was always responsible to be there for her kids. If foul play was involved then how would it be done? ? There's 20 go get yourself a drink? Then what??

 

[oviedo]

I still think she was a great mum and was trying to better herself, and even if she was an alcoholic she was always responsible to be there for her kids. If foul play was involved then how would it be done? ? There's 20 go get yourself a drink? Then what??

Yes thank you - I just read my post again and fixed it - I really think there is more going on but will await hearing from LE

 

[Lamima]

Remember Timothy Boczkowski?