New Approach in Search for Missing Henry Co. Mother

New Approach in Search for Missing Henry Co. Mother

By Lori Barrow

Paris, Tenn.- According to Chris Williams, Director of Operations for Southeast Canine Search and Rescue (SEK9SAR), a team of Criminology students from Towson University, from Towson, MD are coming to West Tennessee to continue working the case of local missing mother, Rachel Conger. Williams stated, “We have been working on and off behind the scenes looking for Rachel for over a year.”  Conger has been missing from her Como, TN home for five years. 

Williams stated that Henry County Sheriff Monte Belew has been very helpful in the planning of the search and that Captain Damon Lowe has been active in coordinating with the team prior to the search. On Friday, Sheriff Monte Belew will speak to the group at Bethel University, followed by a phone conference with Amber Simmons, Conger’s now 18-year-old daughter. Rachel Conger’s mother, Louise Younger, will also be in attendance. Simmons said from her Georgia home, “I appreciate everything that all of these people are doing.  I am happy they are coming in and searching again. I hope this opens up new possibilities in the case and I hope that they are able to find some answers.” 

The Towson students chose Rachel as someone they felt could use the help due to the limited exposure that her case has received.  Williams said, “Everyone deserves resolution. That includes Rachel and her family. We feel that although all this time has passed, Rachel can still be found. She will only be found if she is searched for. ” The field search will be Saturday and Sunday at Land Between the Lakes. 

Williams emphasized that although Southeast Canine Search and Rescue is directing the search that it is a multistate, multiagency endeavor.  The searchers will include Southeast K-9 Search and Rescue, Jodi Powers Search and Rescue from KY, Smyrna Rescue, and many volunteers working alongside the students. They are not requesting volunteer searchers at this time, however, Williams stated volunteers may be needed at a later date. Williams stated, “We will be hosting more searches over the next several months for Rachel if she is not found. The public will be allowed to participate. They can sign up at www.southeastk9sar.org in the registration link type: Rachel Conger.”

Southeast K-9 Search and Rescue is a Non-Profit Organization that provides specially trained Search and Rescue Personnel, K-9 Units, and equipment to most of the United States. SEK9SAR hold awards and recognition from the TN State Senate and House, Presidential Volunteer Service Awards from President Obama, The National Points of Light from Former President George W. Bush, and awards from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. They currently have K-9 Teams based in McEwen, TN, Dickson, TN, Clarksville, TN, Smyrna, TN and Madisonville, KY.

Websites and Contact information: http://www.southeastk9sar.org/, www.bringrachelhome.blogspot.com, https://www.facebook.com/BringRachelHome

 

Remember Rachel: Five Years Later

Paris, TN- How would you feel if five years went by and you didn’t know what happened to a missing loved one? As of 2011, the National Center for Crime Information estimates that there are over 85,000 missing persons in the United States. That’s 85,000 with families; moms, dads, siblings, even children. When you’re talking about numbers in the tens of thousands, it’s easy to overlook the fact that these are people. People with names, hobbies, interests. People whose lives were cut short for some reason or another. Let me tell you about one of those people. 

Rachel Conger was a pretty, young mother. She was devoted to her then 13-year-old daughter, and her daughter described her as being her best friend. They both had an intense love for their dachshunds, Mia and Lynnia. Rachel had plans for her life. She ended her turbulent marriage and she and her daughter moved out to start fresh. I can’t drive through Como without looking at their house and wondering what might have been. 

I put off writing this because I was trying to retain some type of objectivity, but I find that hard to do. At one point in time, Rachel was my sister-in-law and I respected her as a mother and we were at a place where we were friends. I hate it for Amber and the rest of their family that they lost her so young and in such a tragic manner. 

On this anniversary, I want this day to be about Rachel and her family. She was such a sweet woman and deserves to be remembered for the wonderful person that she was. Please keep her daughter, her mother, and the rest of her family in your thoughts and prayers today and always. 

"When those we love have left this earth, we still can feel them near. We'll see a picture, hear a song, and it’s just like they are here. And when we call upon our faith, when we believe and trust, we know the ones we care about are always close to us."

-Constance Parker Graham

We are remembering Rachel today. She has been missing for four years today. Please say a prayer that Rachel is found and say a prayer for comfort for her family. 

Your Loved One lives In Your Heart
Many tender memories soften your grief,
May fond recollection bring you relief,
And may you find comfort and peace in the thought
Of the joy that knowing your loved one brought…
For time and space can never divide
Or keep your loved one from your side
When memory paints in colors true
The happy hours that belonged to you.
~ Helen Steiner Rice

If We Could Bring You Back Again

If We Could Bring You Back Again

If we could bring you back again,

For one more hour or day,

We’d express all our unspoken love;

We’d have countless things to say.



If we could bring you back again,

We’d say we treasured you,

And that your presence in our lives

Meant more than we ever knew.



If we could bring you back again,

To tell you what we should,

You’d know how much we miss you now,

And if we could, we would.


By Joanna Fuchs
(http://www.poemsource.com/sympathy-poems.html)

We are honoring and celebrating Rachel's life on her 34th birthday. Please keep her family and friends in your thoughts and prayers. Pray that Rachel is brought back to them soon.

Forever in Our Hearts

Today marks the three-year anniversary of Rachel's disappearance. We ask that you please keep Rachel's family, especially her daughter, Amber, and mother, Louise, in your thoughts and prayers.

Forever in our Hearts


A million times we needed you,

A million times we cried,

If love alone would have saved you,

You would of never died.



In life we loved you dearly,

In death we love you still,

In our hearts you hold a place,

No one can ever fill.



A light from our household is gone,

A voice from our love is stilled,

A place in our vacant home,

Which never can be filled.

Some may think you are forgotten,

Though on earth you are no more,

But in our memory you are with us,

As you always were before.



It broke our hearts to lose you,

But you did not go alone,

A part of us went with you,

The day God called you home.



Your precious memories are for keepsakes,

with which we never part,

God has you safely in his keeping,

But we have you forever in our hearts



http://www.dennydavis.net/poemfiles/mempoem.htm

Your Mother is Always With You

When you need your mom the most,
remember she's still a part of you.

She is always with you...

She is the whisper of the leaves
as you walk down the street.

She is the smell of bleach
in your freshly laundered socks.

She is the cool hand on your brow
when you are not well.

Your mother lives inside your laughter.
She's crystallized in every tear drop.

She is the place that you came from,
your first home.

She is the map that you follow
with each step that you take.

She is your first love,
and your first heartbreak.
And nothing on earth can separate you.

Not time, Not space,
Not even death,
can separate you from your mother.

You carry her inside you.


~anonymous

To Amber on Rachel's Birthday

I Am Still Here

Please don't mourn for me

I'm still here, though you don't see.

I'm right by your side each night and day

And within your heart I long to stay.

My body is gone but I'm always near.

I'm everything you feel, see or hear.

My spirit is free though I'll never depart

As long as you keep me alive in your heart.

I'll never wander out of your sight~

I'm the brightest star on a summer night.

I'll never be beyond your reach~

I'm the warm moist sand when you're at the beach.

I'm the colorful leaves when Autumn's around

And the pure white snow that blankets the ground.

I'm the beautiful flowers of which you're so fond,

The clear cool water in a quiet pond.

I'm the first bright blossom you'll see in the spring,

The first warm raindrop that April will bring.

I'm the first ray of light when the sun starts to shine,

And you'll see that the face in the moon is mine.

When you start thinking that there's no one to love you,

You can talk to me through the Lord above you.

I'll whisper my answer through the leaves on the trees,

And you'll hear my answer on the soft summer breeze.

I'm the hot salty trees that flow when you weep

And the beautiful dreams that come while you sleep.

I'm the smile you see on a baby's face,

Just look for me, I'm everyplace!

~Author Unknown

Contacting Amber, Part II

Please be aware that all of those who love and care for Amber will do anything to shield her from people who are out to scam her, or cause additional pain, all in the name of money. Although we would like it if everyone wanting to help would do as asked and not contact her, but rather an adult, there are still some people that feel it is best to go to her without going through the proper channels. So here is what is going to happen. We would like that you contact an adult. She has an abundance of them in her life. All of their email addresses have been provided before. Contact them. However, if you contact her, we will get a name, phone number, email address and you will be thoroughly checked out and vetted before you are able to speak with her.

Please be warned that Amber has an extensive network of people who love her and care about her and want to see her protected from people who seek to scam her and cause her pain.

Feeling Mad...

Sometimes I don't think that everyone realizes what a wonderful person Rachel was. Sometimes I feel like if they did, if they really, truly understood that then surely they would do more to help find her. That Amber and Louise could be given the knowledge that she was found. That people would quit spreading rumors that she is alive and chose to run off. Then I realize that all of those people who spent hours coordinating searches and searching for Rachel did care...or they would not have been out there. Searching. Sometimes in extreme heat, sometimes in the cold. But they were there. I'll be honest here. I got mad when she wasn't found.

Before anyone gets upset with me, please read on. I got mad because my niece's mother, an incredibly sweet woman who would do anything for someone in need, was taken from her. She was taken from her daughter by a man who was so selfish in his obsessive "love" that if he could not have her then no one could. I got mad because I felt that if she wasn't found, then he outsmarted everyone and in the end "won" at his sick and twisted game.

There hasn't been much going on in the searching front. I guess that we have needed to step back, regroup and see what we can do to continue searching for Rachel. Honestly, I'm at a loss for what we can do to reignite interest in the case. I ask for any and all opinions! It seems like the traditional media does not want to hear the case of a missing woman when there is no suspect to find, because the suspect killed himself. I might be wrong. But, I would like someone to tell me what I should be doing.

I want to get interest in Rachel's case again because it is the right thing to do. I enjoyed my friendship with Rachel. She was an awesome mom and friendly, light hearted person who deserved better after leading a tumultuous life. I want Amber to know that people still care and would still do anything to help her find her mom. I do not want to see Rachel forgotten. Please help us search for the answers- or tell us what we should do.

Online Candlelight Vigil

The event is online. Details are as follows:

March 13, 2010 marks the two-year-anniversary of Rachel Conger's disappearance. We ask that everyone post their messages of prayer, love and support to the group wall so that Amber knows that people do still care and still want her mother to be found and her family to have that closure. Please post a message of support, encouragement, prayer or light a virtual candle at http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/enter.cfm?l=eng (Group initials BRH). The virtual candles stay lit for 48 hours.

On the one month "anniversary," we held a candlelight vigil on the Henry County Courthouse steps to honor and pray for Rachel and her family. On the one-year anniversary, we held a candlelight vigil at Bird's Creek Baptist Church to honor and pray for Rachel and her family. On this second year anniversary, Rachel's daughter, Amber, will be unable to be with us, but we still want to honor and pray for Rachel.

If You Don't Have Anything Nice To Say...

1 Peter 4:15- But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

For almost two years, we have tried to take the high road and not address those that would like nothing more than to see Amber and Louise hurting over Rachel's disappearance. We will still strive to accomplish that lofty goal. Obviously, we cannot say what is on our minds while others go around blithely stating whatever they want. That is the difference between having class and not, I suppose.

Just in case anyone is wondering and feels the need to make up new gossip. Amber moved to Georgia to live with her father and his girlfriend in Tracye's hometown. To get away from all of the gossip- so summon up whatever class or dignity you have, and quit making up stories about the situation. Or I won't make thinly veiled references to you on a blog, I will outright name everyone who has done something mean to Amber or Louise since March 13, 2008.

Malachi 3:5: And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

Jeremiah 7:9-10- Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?

Contacting Amber

Anyone wishing to help please contact Jody Simmons, Carol Simmons, Lori Simmons or Tracye Smith. Do not contact Amber directly. Thank You.

Missing Mother: Amber's Story

My name is Amber Simmons, I am 15 years old and I lived in Paris, TN my whole life- until recently. My mother, Rachel Conger, went missing when I was 13 years old. For over 10 years, I witnessed my step father, Paul Conger, abuse my mom. I have seen him hurt her in many ways like, choking, hitting, slapping, and holding guns to her head. He had threatened many times to kill both my mother and I.

We never thought anything like that would actually happen. My mom and I were best friends and I shared everything with her. She was taken from me by someone I loved and trusted. About a month before she went missing- my mother and my step father got into a huge fight- she had learned to just let him yell but he took it to far this time. I had two friends over and he was threatening to kill me and my mom’s two pregnant dogs. He kicked us out that day. My mother had been working in Clarksville TN, so she got all of our things and she took them to a friend’s house. I stayed with one of my friends in Henry County so I could still go to school. We found a house in Como, TN. I was so happy to finally get out of that house and away from him. We were doing so well on our own while he was barely able to buy food for himself.

That is when he decided he needed us back in his life. My best friend lived down the street so I was always at her house and she was always at mine. On March 12th, 2008 I had been hanging out with a few friends that lived close to me when my mom came home in her friends truck- apparently she was borrowing it because she had been given a couch. Her car was still in Clarksville. Paul was with her, I had gone out of my way to give him a dirty look and be rude to him. They got the couch in and she told me she had to go over to his house to get some of her things. I was going to church that night so I was said okay. I went to the church down the road and when my friend and I were walking home I tried calling my mom a few times- she didn’t answer so I went ahead and went to my friends house. Finally, at around 9:30 I got her on the phone but Paul answered. I asked to talk to my mom and he asked to "borrow" her for a night. Of course, I said no and asked to talk to my mother. That made him mad and when she got on the phone she sounded like she had been crying. I told her, "I want you to come home momma." She told me she would come get me.

When they pulled up to my friend’s house, I saw he was there and it made me so mad. I gave him dirty looks the whole time. When we got to my house he decided he needed to go take a shower. While he was gone my mom told me what was going on she said that he said if we didn’t let him in our lives then he would burn the house down with us in it, then she told me if I heard anything during the night to crawl out of my window, run to my friends house and call the police. Then she told me I will always love you no matter what happens. I had to walk to my friends house and get my cell phone charger. When I came back he was at the house so I quickly went to bed, not wanting to see him.

When I woke up on March 13th, 2008 my mother was not there. The bed was unmade, dishes were in the sink, and the back door was open. All of those things were very unlike her. I figured she had went to town to get something or maybe Paul was making her take the truck back and say he didn’t need his help anymore. She had told me to call her friend Doug and let him know the situation, they were NOT involved in any way other than friends he just wanted to help us out. So I started calling all of my mom’s friends after calling her for the 10th time with no answer. Doug hadn’t seen her and thanked me for the heads up, none of her other friend had seen her either, so I decided to call Paul no answer form his cell or house phone. I called everyone I knew and no one had seen either of them.

I decided to get dressed and call my friend to come over when she got there, I told her everything. We watched a movie, frequently calling my mom with no luck. Around four o’clock my friends mom took me to town, I went to my dad’s house to see if he had seen her and of course he hadn’t so I went to the police to file a missing persons report. I was so scared. They put out an APB (all points bulletin) to look for the license plate number of the truck that they were in, they couldn’t find it.

Around 11 that night I still hadn’t heard anything so I called my dad and grandma to come get me. We got my two dogs and I stayed with my grandma that night the next day they stared flying helicopters and searching for them both. They found the truck that Friday with my mom’ belongings in it like her phone and purse. On Sunday, they found my step father dead of a self inflicted gunshot wound. They continued to search for my mom with no luck.

Over the summer of ’08 I held a car wash, bake sale, yard sale, and a benefit concert to raise money to bring in search teams. I rose about 6,000 dollars in the end. I was able to bring in two search teams, United Response Search and Rescue, and The Cue Center for Missing Persons. I am so grateful to them for their efforts but my mother is still missing. I have had two candle light vigils and one balloon release. It will be two years since I have seen my mother on March 13th. I know she could never leave me because we were best friends and she loved me more than anything else. I lost my Mother at 13 years of age and I haven’t been the same since. I need closure and answers. So far I haven’t got them but I hope one day I will have them.



Thank you for your time,

Amber Simmons

Prayer

There is nothing to update, we have not been in contact with any search organizations since the last time something fell through. It gets discouraging, to say the least. I would like to take the time to ask everyone to keep praying for Rachel to be found, keep praying for Amber and Louise to have strength in what is still a difficult time.

Amber has moved with her father to Georgia for a fresh start. A place where no one talks behind her back about her mother, a place where she is free of the mindless gossip about Rachel and Paul that people spread. A place where some people do not side with the man that abused her mother and then did what changed Amber's life forever. We love Amber, we miss her dearly, but we understand.

We will update as we can, but the updates are few and far between. It is now fall, if any search teams are interested in coming to search for Rachel, we would love to speak with you. We can always be reached at bringrachelcongerhome@hotmail.com, phone contact info can be provided via email. We are not giving up in our search for Rachel, we feel that she deserves to be found, but we do need help in accomplishing that goal.

Remember My Name

Rachel Conger

Oct. 11, 1977-

March 13, 2008

Remember My Name

When you remember my walk upon this earth

Look not into my steps with pity.

When you taste the tears of my journey

Notice how they fill my foot prints

Not my spirit

For that remains with me.

My story must be told

Must remain in conscious memory

So my daughter won’t cry my tears

Or follow my tortured legacy.

Lovin’ is a tricky thing

If it doesn’t come from a healthy place,

If Lovin’ Doesn’t FIRST practice on self

it will act like a stray bullet

not caring what it hits

You may say:

Maybe I should’ve loved him a little less

Maybe I should’ve loved me a little more,

Maybe I should’ve not believed he’d never hit me again.

All those maybes will not bring me back – not right his wrong.

My life was not his to take.

As your eyes glance at my name

Understand once I breathed

Walked

Loved

just like you.

I wish for all who glance at my name

To know love turned to fear –

kept me there

Loved twisted to fear,

Kept me in a chokehold

Cut off my air

Blurred my vision

I couldn’t see how to break free.

I shoulda, told my family

I shoulda told my friends

I shoulda got that CPO

Before the police let him go

But all those shoulda’s can’t bring me back

when I lied so well
To cover the shame

To hide the signs.

If my death had to show

what love isn’t

If my death had to show

that love shouldn’t hurt

If my death had to make sure

another woman told a friend

instead of holding it in

If my death reminds you

how beautiful

how worthy

you really are

If my death reminds you

to honor all you are daily

Then remember my name

Shout it from the center of your soul

Wake me in my grave

Let ME know

My LIVING

was not in vain.

Copyright 1995 Kimberly A. Collins, Washington, D.C., reprinted with permission.



http://peace4missing.ning.com/forum/topics/remember-my-namewriting-toward

On the Anniversary of Rachel's Disappearance

It has been twelve long months since Amber Simmons has looked upon her mother's face, and yet this 14-year-old child soldiers on and holds her head up high, despite those who want nothing more to tarnish her mother's name or insinuate that her mother left her willingly. Rachel Conger was thirty when she disappeared on March 13, 2008 from her Como, TN home that she shared with her daughter, Amber. Amber's stepfather had spent the night of March 12 at Rachel and Amber's home. When Amber woke up on the first day of her spring break vacation, neither Rachel or Paul was in the house. The backdoor was standing open, which is something that Rachel would never do. There was no note left, no voicemail on Amber's cell phone from Rachel saying when she would be back. Fast forward to Sunday, March 16. Paul's body was found in the woods off of Briarpatch Lake Rd., he had taken his own life but left no clues as to where Rachel could be found.

Over the last year, Amber has organized fundraisers and recruited some of the nation's best search and rescue organizations to come to Henry County and look for her mother. Amber has spent each of the last 365 days in her own mind wishing that she could just have her mother back. To the people who have graciously donated to help bring Rachel home, we thank you. To the people who have kept Amber and her family in their prayers, we thank you. It is people like you who make it possible for Rachel's family to keep searching for her. To the people who only have the time to gossip and insinuate negative things about Rachel, please consider that at the heart of this tragic situation is a 14-year-old girl who desperately misses her mother.

Amber and Louise are holding a candlelight vigil this evening at 5 p.m. at Birds Creek Baptist Church, on Whitlock Rd. to mark the one-year anniversary of Rachel's disappearance. The vigil is open to the public. They could really use everyone's thoughts and prayers on this day.

Press for Rachel Conger

Lately, several media outlets have ran stories about Amber and Rachel. We are grateful for the media coverage because it helps to keep Rachel's name out there, so that the public does not forget that this amazing mother is still missing. All articles can be found by clicking the following links:

Weather Limits Conger Search on the HenryCountian.com

Daughter Yearns for Closure in Case of Missing Mother on the Paris Post-Intelligencer website

Search for Missing Woman Resumes on WBBJ website

CUE Center Search

On Saturday and Sunday, CUE Center for Missing Persons performed an extensive search for Rachel under rather harsh conditions. All day on Saturday, rain and sleet fell, making the searchers job that much more difficult. On Sunday morning, searchers had to deal with the snow that fell the previous night. Although we were lucky that unlike most areas only a small amount of snow fell in the Henry County area, searchers still had to contend with slippery mud and freezing temperatures. Even in all of this, the CUE volunteers and HCSO deputies never gave up. We would like to thank everyone who participated in the search, whether it be volunteers that turned out for the search or the people who donated money and/or food to keep the searchers well fed during their time here.

We received a tremendous response to our call for help with donations, and we are very grateful to everyone that gave what they could! The search for Rachel was unsuccessful this time, but CUE is interested in searching again, and we would appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers to find Rachel!

Searches for Rachel

There's something special about the people that comprise the two search teams that have and will come in the future to search for Rachel. We cannot say thank you enough to these wonderful people that take time out of their lives to come and perform this job. So, with that being said, we still want to thank United Response for everything that they did and continue to do to help us try to find Rachel, and thank you to the CUE Center for featuring Rachel on the National "On the Road to Remember" Tour, and the upcoming search. These are two wonderful organizations ran by wonderful and caring people, and we want them to know how much we appreciate both groups. God Bless all of you in everything that you do!

CUE Center Search for Rachel

Bring Rachel Conger Home

Email: bringrachelcongerhome@hotmail.com

The Search to “Bring Rachel Home”

One Henry County Daughter’s Incredible Effort to Find Missing Mother

On Thursday, March 13, 2008, thirteen-year-old Amber Simmons awoke to a day that would change her life forever. Amber woke up on her first day of Spring Break to find her mother, 30-year-old Rachel Conger, gone without a trace. In the months following her mother’s disappearance, Amber turned her attention to raise funds to bring professional search organizations to Henry County to look for her missing mother.

Community United Effort (CUE) "Center for Missing Persons" toured 17 states in 12 days on their 2008 Road to Remember Tour to raise awareness of missing persons. Rachel was featured as Tennessee's missing person and a stop was made at Memorial Park on September 1, 2008. Additional information about CUE Center can be found at :

http://ncmissingpersons.org/aboutcue.htm

On February 28 and March 1, the CUE Center for Missing Persons, based out of Wilmington, NC, will conduct all day searches for the remains of Rachel Conger. The director of CUE Center, Monica Caison, stated that they are providing this service free of charge and will bring twelve K9 dogs and their handlers, and search teams from North Carolina, Missouri, Tennessee, Florida and Maine.

Donations for the searcher’s lunches are requested from individuals and businesses that are willing to help. Email bringrachelcongerhome@hotmail.com if you would like to help donate!


Items needed for lunches:

*Sandwich meats

*Bread

*Fruits (bananas & apples)

*Small bags of potato chips

*Bottled water

*Granola bars

*Napkins

*Lunch bags

*Ziplock sandwich bags

We need at a minimum, enough of each item for 200+ lunches!

The Broken Chain

For Amber, on her mother's day of birth
(Originally posted by her grandmother, Carol Simmons)



Rachel Lynn Younger Conger
Oct. 11, 1977-March 13, 2008


The Broken Chain

We little knew that morning,

that God was going to call your name.

In life we loved you dearly,

In death we do the same.

It broke our hearts to lose you,

you did not go alone;

for part of us went with you,

the day God called you home.


You left us peaceful memories,

your love is still our guide;

and though we cannot see you,

you are always at our side.

Our family chain is broken,

and nothing seems the same;

but as GOD calls us one by one,

The Chain will link again.

~author unknown~

Rachel's 31st Birthday

On the website created for Rachel Conger, there is a counter that lists the time since Rachel's disappearance, but for Rachel's daughter, Amber Simmons, it feels like an eternity has gone by. Amber said that she wants people to remember that her mother was a good person, and that she wants her found more than anything. Saturday, October 11, is Rachel Conger's 31st birthday. We would like everyone to take the time and say a prayer for Rachel to be found, and for Amber to get the peace that she needs so much.

Find Rachel Conger Benefit Concert

Country artist, Mary Elizabeth Murphy, is the proud organizer and featured entertainer of the "Find Rachel Conger" benefit concert, to be held September 6th at 5pm at the Casey Jones Amphitheatre in Jackson, TN.

Rachel Conger is a 30 year old mom and has been missing since March 2008. She has a 13 year old daughter, Amber, who is devastated that her Mom is missing. Mary Elizabeth stated in a MySpace bulletin that, "I am 16 and only three years older than Amber. I can not even begin to understand what Amber is going through." Mary Elizabeth went on to say that "I love my music, and am working hard to get my career going, but I have always wanted my music to make a difference, and have a positive effect on people's lives. What better way, than to raise money for those in need? Not only me, but some of my friends are joining me in this event." At the benefit concert, CDs, T-Shirts, Autographed photos, and more will be for sale. There will also be a concession stand available.

Please grab your lawn chair and/or blanket and join us for this event! We are asking for a $10 ticket fee (or more if you feel led).

We would like to say that words cannot express how grateful we are to Mary Elizabeth for organizing this event!




The following MySpace bulletin was written by Mary Elizabeth Murphy, featured musician & benefit organizer for the FIND RACHEL CONGER benefit concert.

I want to let you know about the benefit, FIND RACHEL CONGER ,I am doing this weekend. It will be this Saturday, Sept.6, at the

Casey Jones Village Amphitheatre
56 Casey Jones Lane
Jackson, TN 38305
beginning at 5pm EST

This benefit is not to bring attention to me or any of the other entertainers, but to raise money for the BRING RACHEL HOME SEARCH FUND. Rachel has been missing since March. She has a 13 year old daughter, Amber, who is devastated by her mom being out there, and not knowing what has happened to her. I am 16, and I can not imagine the pain she is going through. She and her mom are close like me and mom are, so I want so badly to help her, and this benefit is the only way I know that I can, except for praying, which I do also.

You can get all the updated information at
http://bringrachelhome.blogspot.com.

I want to invite you to come to the benefit on Saturday. Not only will we have having singers, we will have booths set up to sell CDs, autographed photos, T-Shirts, and other things, Also, there will be a concessions booth. Ticket prices- $10 requested, more if you feel led. Or, if you would like to help out at the event, that would be WONDERFUL!!!! ALL monies will be donated to the fund.

If you will be not able to attend, but would like to contribute to this benefit, we would appreciate donations, of drinks, snacks, CDs, T-Shirts, Autographed photos, and/or money. PLEASE help me, help Amber find HER MOMMA.


Here is a list of entertainers:
Mary Elizabeth Murphy
Devin Cates
Maggie Martinez
Natalie Grace Wilson
Greg Boals
Amy Blankenship
Joey Blankenship
Amanda Mitchell
Livy Hassenflug
Taylor Goodson
and others.

The Casey Jones Village Amphitheatre is a large outdoor venue, with a super stage.

Like most outdoor venues, there are no seats or benches, so please be sure to bring your lawn chairs and/or blankets!

Thank you so much for your time to read this message. Please keep us and the event in your thoughts and prayers, that we will be able to raise enough money to help Amber find her mom.

Mary Elizabeth