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CARTERSVILLE, Ga. - Efforts to find a missing Cartersville mother are ramping up. The GBI has now joined local law enforcement in the search for 27-year-old Heather McDonald.
Stefan McDonald holds back tears as he talks about the disappearance of his wife. “Somebody knows something and I need that information to come to us,” says McDonald.
McDonald says his wife was visiting a friend in Acworth September 18. He says he exchanged texts with her that day, and that was the last time he heard from her. The next evening, her Jeep was found in the parking lot of the Courtesy Inn off Highway 411 in Cartersville. The door was ajar, her belongings were inside and the key was found on the ground.
Family and friends have been searching every day for her. They've been going door to door handing out flyers and searching wooded areas. Heather's cousin, Josh Proctor, has been organizing the searches. “We have about 20 people committed to searching for her, we go out every day and don't go home until the sun goes down,” says Proctor.
Heather's mother, Lisa Chatman, says Heather would never leave her children. Heather has three little girls, ages 1, 2 and 6 years old. “The oldest made her own little poster, and wrote the words 'my mommy is missing' on the back of her picture,” says Chatman.
Cartersville Police, Bartow County Sheriff's deputies and the GBI are also looking for Heather. Wednesday evening they acted on a tip and showed up with search warrants at the Courtesy Inn but say it didn't pan out.
In the parking lot, friends and family formed a circle and joined hands in prayer. “We're not going to stop searching until she comes home,” says Chatman.
The family has raised 4-thousand dollars for a reward. They've also created a Facebook page for any tips on Heather's whereabouts. Facebook.com/haveyouseenheather