LINCOLN COUNTY • Ten years after the 13-year-old girl who loved horses, Barbies and the color purple disappeared without a trace, hope is hard to come by, her mother says. Shannon Tanner hasn’t given up on finding her daughter, Bianca Piper, alive, but every year it’s gotten harder to commemorate the anniversary of her disappearance.
One year, Tanner said she did nothing to mark the day, and she regretted it.
“Whether we pass out fliers or sit at home and grieve, we still have to go through the emotion of what the day is, and I’d rather be out there trying to make sure everybody remembers her,” she said.
Tuesday marks 10 years since Bianca was last seen. On March 10, 2005, Tanner drove her to a bridge down the street from their home on a remote, winding, gravel road in Foley and let her out to walk back home after an argument. It was a snowy night, and Bianca was wearing blue jeans, tennis shoes and an Adidas hoodie.
The two had argued over Bianca’s not doing the dishes. The teen suffered from bipolar and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, and the walks were recommended by a mental health therapist to calm her. Bianca was on several different medications to help control her mood swings and aggressive tendencies.
A massive search of 270 square miles turned up no leads. Police said they suspected Bianca had been a victim of foul play.
On at least one occasion, police called Bianca’s family to come meet with a girl who they thought might be Bianca. Those days renewed Tanner’s faith that Bianca would be found, but it was short-lived, she said.
