Holding out hope
More than a month after her disappearance, friends and family of Amanda Jones gathered at the Hillsboro Civic Center – the last place Jones was seen – to pray together for her safe return and collect money for her bills.
A dinner and auction benefit for Jones and her family was Thursday. The event raised around $9,000.
Jones' father, Hubert Propst, said he would continue to pay for his daughter's utilities, insurance and car payment until she returns home. The money will also go to support Jones' 4-year-old daughter.
Jones was also nine months pregnant at the time of her disappearance.
Nearly 200 people bid on items in a silent auction and a live auction Thursday night. Neighbors, co-workers, and complete strangers donated items, which ranged from perfume bottles to old computers. The live auction featured more costly items as well as sports tickets.
"Sometimes you have to look out for people in your own backyard," said Tammy Fadler, who won a $110 bid for a pair of Cardinal tickets. "We have given to Katrina victims, but you also have to look out for your neighbors."
Nearly 300 items were available at the silent auction. Local businesses also donated 80 gift certificates to the event. Karen Fink, a close friend of Jones, organized the auction and dinner. Although suffering from pneumonia, she spoke to the crowd about her friendship with Jones.
"A few years ago, I was in a bad car accident and in a coma for five days," Fink told the crowd. "When I woke up Amanda was the first person I saw."
Amanda's sister, Carrie Propst, said that although her sibling's disappearance has been difficult, she is trying to stay strong for her parents. Carrie said she wanted to go with Amanda to the civic center the Sunday she went missing, but Amanda wouldn't let her.
Rev. Ray Thomas of Calvary Assembly in Festus offered a prayer before the meal, saying God is able to provide a miracle. He described Jones as beautiful and happy-go-lucky and said she was looking forward to the birth of her son.
During the dinner, friends shared stories about Amanda, describing her as someone who would always give people a second chance. Recent pictures of Amanda showed her posing with an Elvis impersonator and using a balloon to make her sister's hair stand up. As friends and family looked at the photo montage, they spoke through tears about how much they missed her smile and good humor.
Peggy Sargent, Pevely deputy city clerk, announced that Thursday had been proclaimed Amanda Jones Day in Pevely. "I can't even imagine what it would be like to deal with Amanda's absence," Sargent said. "I've lost loved ones, but I know where they are."
Meanwhile, Lt. Tommy Wright of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said he has collected items from Jones' car and hopes those items will yield some more clues. "I think we're headed in the right direction," Wright said. "We're waiting for some lab results. We've had over 3,000 man- hours in this operation. It's just a matter of establishing proof of some of our theories."
A $100,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in Jones' disappearance.
(Right) Jones was last seen at the Hillsboro Civic Center on August 14, one week before she was due to give birth.
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