Friday, August 27, 2010

Rally draws attention to Newport missing person case



08/27/2010

An East Tennessee family worked to make sure you don't forget a missing person: Megan Maxwell.

"She's on my mind every hour on the hour. She doesn't leave it," Lisa Maxwell said.

Megan Maxwell is always on her mother Lisa's mind.

It's been 16 months since the 19-year-old from Newport went missing, her burning car the only clue.

"I would love for her to just pull up in the driveway. I don't think that will happen. We just need closure. And we need justice," Maxwell said.

Fliers are posted around town. The family also passes out cards with that same missing person information on them and buttons with Megan's picture on them.

"We have got to keep her name out there and have to have people continue to look anyplace, anyplace," Megan Maxwell's grandmother Judy O'Neil said.

A rally at the Maxwell home in Newport is part of the CUE Center for Missing Persons "Road to Remember Tour." The ten day tour covers about 4,000 miles with rallies bringing attention to more than 100 missing or murdered people.

"We're hoping this awareness campaign will produce some calls or tips for investigators ultimately to get to another area to search," CUE Founder and Director Monica Caison said.

Law enforcement spoke at the rally. They have exhausted all leads but hope for a break in a case that offers a $10,000 reward.

"While they're out boating, while they're out walking or walking the dog or whatever, keep an eye out. She's got to be around here somewhere," Caison said.

Her family planted a Bradford Pear tree in Megan Maxwell's honor one year after she disappeared.

"She was just a fun, great kid to be around. And I miss her so bad," her grandmother said.

Dozens of people at the rally formed a prayer circle near the tree and fulfilled Lisa Maxwell's plea to the public.

"Pray," she said. "Just pray that we find her and get some kind of closure. If you have anything you think you know, no matter how little it is, just call. Call. And don't forget Megan."

Jeffrey Stock remains a person of interest in the case.

He is serving a six year federal prison sentence on an unrelated conviction.

http://www.helpfindmeganmaxwell.com