AUBURNDALE, Fla. — Tonya Whipp’s family said they last heard from the 38-year-old at the end of May.
Auburndale police started their search for her at the end of June after her sister asked officers to do a wellness check.
Police said the last person to see Whipp was her boyfriend. They searched his house in early October. That's when he told 10 Tampa Bay he didn't know where she was.
Since that search, Whipp's family said there have been no new developments in her case.
The family was hoping for a Christmas miracle, hoping she'd be home, but even when that didn't happen, they didn't give up hope.
As 2023 comes to an end, the 38-year-old's family is pleading for answers. Her family and friends said she's more than just a case number. They held a vigil so no one forgets her name.
“People walking by can come up here. I want them to see or recognize her and maybe if they see her, they might know something and say something,” Robin Klotzbier, Whipp’s sister, said.
They said it's unusual for Whipp to not be around for birthdays and even Christmas.
Whipp's aunt Lisa Textor said it’s not just the big events. Every day is hard.
"We aren't sleeping well. We do have nights where we call each other because we can't sleep. We have thoughts and prayers that she'd walk through the door but at the same time feeling like that's not the reality seven months later," Textor said.
In a statement to 10 Tampa Bay, Auburndale police said:
“Our department is actively working this case. We are awaiting items collected from a search warrant to be returned from FDLE’s lab. This case is a top priority case for us. This case is talked about on a daily basis with our Investigations Unit and Administration.
Our department is following up on any and all leads that come in, but the leads are slowing down, so we are encouraging the community to contact us directly or through Crime Stoppers if they have any leads or information. We have no further information to share at this time.“
Donna Martin, another sister of Whipp, asks for help bringing the 38-year-old home no matter what.
"If she's alive bring her home. If she's not alive, bring her home. We want to put her to rest," she said.
If you have any information, you're asked to call Auburndale police. To remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward of $4,000, contact Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-8477 or online here.