A 48-year-old Wise County woman, Monica Sanford, has been missing since August 23, and authorities suspect foul play in her disappearance, the Wise County Sheriff’s Office said.
Sanford was last seen on a 200-acre property in the 1200 block of Cuba Road in Bridgeport, where she was staying in a camper. Her vehicle was found abandoned against a fence on the property, and she left behind her belongings, including her clothes, makeup, and dog, prompting concerns.
“We don’t believe she left that property on her own,” said Wise County Deputy Sheriff Eric Debus, NBC 5 DFW reported.
The sheriff’s office, along with Texas Rangers, has searched the property using drones, K9 units, sonar technology, and a cadaver team, but Sanford remains missing. A person of interest is in custody on unrelated charges, though authorities have not disclosed their identity or connection to Sanford.
“We have several people of interest; he just happens to be in our custody on another charge, but he is in our custody, and he is cooperative,” Debus said, per NBC 5. When asked if Sanford is believed to be alive, he added, “We hope so. We pray she is, but I do not know.”
Sanford’s family grew alarmed when she failed to contact her daughter on her 28th birthday.
“It’s another day we have not heard from her. No one has seen her,” said her sister, Darla Hastings, per Fox 4 KDFW. “I don’t think my sister is alive anymore, because if she was, she would not ignore us. She wouldn’t not reach out. She would not miss Destiny’s birthday.”
Hastings, who filed a missing person report on August 25, said she was told Sanford and her ex-boyfriend left the property at 10 p.m. on August 23, but only the ex-boyfriend returned the next day.
“When I saw that she had disappeared, according to his words, and left behind every stitch of clothes and her makeup and her dog … That’s when I knew something was wrong,” she said, NBC 5 reported.
A man whose mother owns the property disputed this, claiming Sanford left alone.
Hastings, who described Sanford as a motherly figure and her only sibling, pleaded for information.
“She means something to me. She means something to her children,” she said, according to Fox 4. “No matter how insignificant you think it might be, it may be what they need to find her and locate her and bring her back. And if nothing else, it gives us closure.”
She added, “She doesn’t deserve wherever she is right now. She deserves to be found. She deserves to be brought home.”
The family’s pain is compounded by the loss of their mother in a drunk driving crash 19 months ago.
Texas EquuSearch is assisting online and has offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to Sanford’s whereabouts. Wise County Crimestoppers is also aiding the search.
Sanford is 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighs about 200 pounds, and has brown hair and eyes. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Wise County Sheriff’s Office at 940-627-5971 or Texas EquuSearch at 281-309-9500.