AUBURNDALE, Fla. — The family of Tonya Whipp, an Auburndale woman who has been missing for seven months, is holding a candlelight vigil this Saturday.
Tonya's family tells 10 Tampa Bay they invite the public to gather at 1 Bobby Green Plaza, near Auburndale Park, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. People are encouraged to wear purple, Tonya's favorite color.
"We didn't get a Christmas miracle. Now, we're hoping for a New Year's miracle," Donna Martin, Tonya's sister, said.
After 7 months, Tonya's family said they are still praying every day for answers.
"We're trying to put 2023 behind us and trying to give my sister peace one way or another. If she's alive, bring her home. If she's not alive, bring her home. Give her peace," Martin said.
Auburndale Police have classified Tonya as "missing and endangered." In early October, police searched the home of her boyfriend, Russell Carroll, who told us then that he didn't know where she was.
"I just got out of prison and now everyone is looking at me like I did something to you," Carroll said at the time. "I just miss her. I want her home just like everybody else does."
Tonya's family said there have been no new developments since that search.
"We are trying to continue to have faith that she's still alive and that she's just out there somewhere," Martin said. "We don't know any other way than that."
Tonya's aunt Lisa Textor said this weekend's vigil is an effort to keep Tonya on everyone's mind and pray for closure.
"We wanted to be able to do this so people, still keep remembering her, keep looking," Textor said. "You don't have to know Tonya to come out and pray with our family that we get answers and bring her home one way or another."
If you have any information about Tonya Whipp's disappearance, you're urged to contact Auburndale Police. You can also leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers to be eligible for a $4,000 reward.