Tarpon Springs Florida

Last night, after starting the day in Alabama and doing 3 stops,we drove from Lake City  to Tarpon Springs, arriving at close to 2am this morning. To say we are tired today is an understatement. Today's 3 stops in Florida are all families I know well though, and I am excited for the day to begin.

Donna Scharrett, CUE volunteer and best friend of Missing Kelly Rothwell is hosting the rally stop (10/9/13 10am) at Anderson Park. We arrive at a serene waterfront park. As we enter the area there are colorful balloons spaced apart and floating, each one tied to a missing person poster held down by a CUE tote bag with a sprinkling of flower petals. Kelly's banner is hanging, her poster board is on display, photo albums are out and flowers are arranged on a green tarp with votive candles. I'm finding this stop to be very calming and peaceful.  I know just about everyone here, it starts out as a small intimate group but grows  as people continue to arrive. Joe Cannon, Louisiana State CUE Coordinator, and his wife have been trailing the tour for a number of stops now. Joe got to see first hand how different the stops are and I know he has learned a lot. Florida State Outreach Coordinator Kelly Osborn is also here along with Christi Henthorn, sister of CUE Volunteer Stephanie White (and winner of the laptop at the Grand Finale).

Originally there wasn't any press present, but after some last minute phone calls, we were asked to wait. This put us way behind in our schedule but it's the most important aspect of the tour so wait we did.

Kelly Rothwell was 35 and a police cadet days away from becoming an officer when she went missing from Clearwater in 2011. She was in the midst of leaving her boyfriend, David Perry, a retired corrections officer. Donna and Kelly had lunch that day and then Kelly left for the condo she shared with David in order to end their relationship. She didn't show for a planned get together that evening and has not been seen or heard from since. Donna reported her missing the following morning and Kelly's car was found later that day two miles from her home. Detectives later discovered that David had left and driven to NY. He has refused to be interviewed and has since been named a suspect in Kelly's disappearance. David Perry has also recently been convicted in NY on charges of Grand Larceny and Insurance Fraud, stemming from faking an injury and defrauding the NY retirement disability system of more than $100,000. As of today he is incarcerated in NY.

I first heard of Kelly's case at the 2011 National Conference that was held just a few weeks after she had gone missing. I then met Donna on the 2011 RTRT. Her rally stop that year in Tampa was my first butterfly release and flower toss. I remember it was a fresh case back then, and I had hoped Kelly would be found sooner rather than later, so Donna wouldn't have to  adjust to this life so many of us lead. The last time I was here was on a search for Kelly held over New Years weekend 2012. Monica asked me to be Donna's victim advocate and we spent a lot of time together. I can honestly say that she helped me as much or more than I hope I helped her.

That weekend Ellen Friel came out with some of her friends and family to help search. Ellen did not know Kelly or Donna, she told me that she had read about the case and tried to make it to an event in December. When that didn't happen, she friended Donna on Facebook and vowed to be at the next event. She ended up searching, getting food donated for lunch and becoming a volunteer. Since that time I've watched Ellen and Donna's relationship grow. It seems to me that Ellen has helped fill the void in Donna's life left by Kelly's absence, and I am thankful to her for that.

Looking at the sea of balloons I ask Donna about them. She tells me that there is one balloon for every CUE registered case in Florida. There are 48 balloons. Monica asks everyone to stand by a balloon and we get some truly moving pictures. Then we gather up the flowers and walk to the water. I'm busy taking pictures as the group tosses them in. I start to tear up as memories of Matt come flooding into my brain. I often toss flowers into the canal where Mathew lost his life and am reminded of that. I think I've pulled myself together as I go to give Donna a hug. I was wrong and I burst into tears as Donna comforts me. I'm thinking this is not how it should be, I'm supposed to be comforting her, but somehow it all seems right. As we are leaving I speak with Monica about what happened and it all made perfect sense the way she explained that to me. I had relaxed and let my guard down in this peaceful place among friends and that allowed my emotions surface.

Elisa