Missing Henry County Girl Found

From the Henry Countian Website:
http://www.henrycountian.com/news.php?viewStory=2937

By Shannon McFarlin

Paris, Tenn. - The 12-year-old girl missing since Sunday has been found safe and sound at a Paris residence.

Mariah Amber Decru, 40 Dorsey Rd., Henry, was found Monday afternoon at a Paris residence following tips called to the Henry County Sheriff's Department.

Criminal Investigation Division Director Damon Lowe said, "We received several tips" from citizens as to the girl's whereabouts throughout the day Monday after the news article appeared in The HenryCountian.

"We were able to track her to a residence in Paris," he said.

The girl was reported missing Sunday evening. She had been dropped off at the 3rd Floor Skate on Washington St. in Paris, but wasn't there when her mother arrived to pick her up at 10:30 p.m.

Lowe said the search continues for Sean Michael Oliver, 16, 7975 Hwy. 69 N, Paris, who has been missing since Friday morning. He was last seen in front of the Maverick convenience store on Memorial Drive.

Lowe asked that anyone with information on Oliver's whereabouts call the sheriff department at 642-1672 or the anonymous tipline at 642-0929.

Two Henry County Juveniles Reported Missing

From the Henry Countian:
http://www.henrycountian.com/news.php?viewStory=2932

Two Juveniles Reported Missing

Posted: Monday, July 21, 2008 10:14 am

Paris, Tenn. - Two local juveniles are reported missing.

According to reports by Henry County Sheriff’s Deputy Wayne Fugua, Sean Michael Oliver, 16, of 7975 Hwy 69 North was picked up for a doctor’s appointment and dropped back off at Maverick gas station in Paris on Friday morning.

Oliver was reported missing around noon by his mother and was last seen wearing a red and white stripped shirt, long blue shorts, and a black baseball cap with NY on it.

In another report, Mariah Amber Decru, 12, of 40 Dorsey Road in Henry was reported missing on Sunday around 1 p.m. According to a report by Deputy Fuqua, Decru was dropped off at 5 p.m. at the 3rd Floor Skate Park at 205 East Wood Street and was not there when her mother went to pick her up at 10:30 p.m.

Decru was last seen wearing a black shirt with skulls, blue jeans, black shoes with pink letter, tongue pierced, and pierce on left of lip.

Update: The Henry County Sheriff's Department is attempting to get a photo of Mariah Decru as well and when we receive it we will publish it.

United Response Search and Rescue

United Response Search and Rescue Team (URSAR Team) is a 501 (c)(3) volunteer nonprofit organization that is based in Texas. URSAR does search and rescue for missing children and missing adults. United Response Search and Rescue Teams has agreed to assist Amber in searching for missing Rachel Conger. I can honestly say that I find the director of URSAR to be a very caring and compassionate woman, and URSAR comes highly recommended to us from several different sources.

(From the United Response Search and Rescue website)

URSAR Team has more than 100 highly trained members and over 3000 non-member volunteers. Their active team members consist of Law Enforcement Officers (active duty and retired), Homicide Detectives, Swat Team Members, Medical Examiners, Paramedics, Fire Fighters, members of the U.S. Marshall’s Posse, Military Reserve Personnel, retired Navy Core personnel, Forensic Osteoligist, Forensic Psychologist, Criminal Justice Students, Certified Public Safety Divers, Swift Water Rescue Divers, Aquatic Crime Scene Investigators, Pilots, Vet Techs, Social Workers, Educators, Family, and friends of the missing as well as other trained SAR specialist.

United Response Search and Rescue Team has a proven successful track record, providing massive search capabilities in Texas, with positive outcomes. Their team has also helped find missing persons in other states. United Response facilitates a rescue/recovery Command Center for search missions, which is utilized by the SAR Team Incident Command Staff, law enforcement, and the families of the missing person. The center includes computers, printers, copy machines, cell phones, and communication resources.


http://www.ursarteam.org

Interview with WBBJ

Amber did an interview with WBBJ (News Channel 7, out of Jackson, TN) today. She answered questions about her Mom, and the efforts to raise money to bring in a search organization. Her interview with reporter, Lauren Linney, will air tonight (July 16) on the 6:00 P.M. and 10:00 P.M. broadcasts.

Bring Rachel Home Yard Sale -July 26

On Saturday, July 26, Amber has planned a yard sale that will be held in the E.W. James & Sons parking lot. If anyone is interested in donating items to the yard sale, please contact Lori at bringrachelcongerhome@hotmail.com. We are so thankful that the community continues to support Amber in trying to raise funds so that we can bring professionals in to search for her mother!

I will update the blog as soon as I get a definite time that the yard sale will be.

Bake Sale Gas Card Giveaway Winners!

At the bake sale, there was an opportunity to win one of two drawings for a $25.00 Shell Gift Gard. Our winners are:

Mr. Michael Key of Puryear, TN and Mr. Larry Conger of Paris, TN.

Congratulations to our winners, and thank you for coming to support Amber to Bring Rachel Home!

Bake Sale Photos

Amber Simmons

Amber Simmons, and volunteer, Steven

Amber Simmons


All photos by Lori Simmons

Bake Sale Photos

Coconut cake, cheddar bacon beer bread,
chocolate chip cookies- it was a tasty day!


Amber Simmons at Bring Rachel Conger Home
Bake Sale


Amber Simmons with volunteer, Steven


Amber Simmons and Dorothy Nichols


Amber Simmons with volunteers, Steven and Billy

All photos by Lori Simmons

Bake Sale Photos

Photo of Rachel Conger on vacation in 2006


Devoted mom with her beautiful girl!


Amber Simmons, daughter of Rachel Conger


Amber Simmons, with volunteer, Steven


Gift card giveaway!

All photos by Lori Simmons

Bake Sale Photos

Amber Simmons, daughter of Rachel Conger,
at bake sale.


Amber Simmons selling goodies at the BRH Bake Sale!



Rachel Conger missing flier.


Rachel Conger memory book, made by
Dorothy Nichols.

All photos by Lori Simmons

Bake Sale

We would like to say thank you to E.W. James & Sons for letting us use their parking lot for the bake sale, and thank you to the UPS Store for printing and distributing fliers for the event. We would also like to give a BIG thank you to all of the people in Henry County that generously donated their money to bring Rachel home! Our grand total for today was $834.60!!! So, our total so far is:

The Safe Space Blurb

The Safe Space has a blurb on an interview that Amber did for BreakTheCycle.org, an organization that aims at breaking the cycle of dating violence in teenage relationships.

She did an excellent job and we're very proud of her!

Bring Rachel Home Bake Sale

Be sure to stop by the “Bring Rachel Conger Home” Bake Sale on July 12 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., in the E.W. James & Sons parking lot at 1301 West Wood Street in Paris , Tennessee .

All proceeds raised will help open doors financially for us to bring in Search and Rescue organizations to search for Rachel Conger, missing since March 13, 2008. The communities contributions will help us reach our immediate needed goal of $4,000, to begin utilizing and continue on-going search efforts with the rising gas and travel expenses.


The bake sale is organized by Rachel's 13-year-old daughter, Amber Simmons, and there will be many delicious pastries for sale, including Pecan pie,Danish pastries, caramel pie, peach cobbler, zucchini bread, cookies, fudge, and several different kinds of cake and teacake. We can always use more, so if you would like to donate a baked item, bring it to the E.W. James & Sons parking lot by 8 a.m. on the day of the sale.

When you visit the bake sale, do not forget to buy a raffle ticket for a chance to win one of two $25 Gas Gift Cards.

If you cannot make it to the “Bring Rachel Conger Home” Bake Sale, you can still donate to the tax deductiable,Rachel Conger Special Account, “ Bring Rachel Home ,” Account No. 8038-010, at the Holley Credit Union in Paris , Tennessee .

Rachel Conger is a young mother who was last seen the morning of March 13, 2008. A witness saw her getting into a Ford F-150 in the Como area with her estranged husband. She has not been seen since. Please contact the Henry County Sheriff’s Office at 731-642-1672 if you have any information about this case. For more details about the Bake Sale and our efforts to “Bring Rachel Conger Home,” please visit http://bringrachelhome.blogspot.com or send an e-mail to bringrachelcongerhome@hotmail.com.

"Bring Rachel Home" Special Account Set Up

If anyone would like to donate to the Bring Rachel Home fund, the tax-deductible bank account is set up at:
Holley Credit Union
1107 Mineral Wells Ave.
Paris, TN 38242

*Information required*
Rachel Conger Special Account "Bring Rachel Home"
Account# 8038-010

Thank you everyone for your continued support!

Fundraising Thermometer

Our initial goal is to raise $4,000 for the Bring Rachel Conger Home fund. On July 7, we should have the bank account information ready to post. Until then, we are posting this fundraising thermometer so that everyone knows where we stand so far!

Prayer for a Missing Person

Prayer for the Family of a Missing Person

Dear Lord, hear me in my plea.

I ask You, if it be Your Will, for the quick and safe return of Rachel to her loved ones. If it not be Your Will at this time, Lord, then I ask for the graces necessary for her loved ones to be able to carry this cross. Even though it may seem like the darkest of times, let them know that the light of Your Love shines ever so brightly upon them and that You have wrapped them in the mantle of Your most generous and Sacred Heart.

Please, Lord, as a new day dawns without Rachel, let them know that as they take each difficult step forward, You are right there by their side. When they falter, let them know that it is You who pick up their cross and enable them to carry on. May they never doubt Your immense love of them, and may they find the peace and joy that comes from loving You. Amen.

Written by Kelly Jolkowski

Project Jason Website

Missing Poster of Rachel Conger

This is the Missing poster that we have created for Rachel, to view the poster as a larger image, click on the poster and it will create a larger image.

Rachel Conger Benefit Car Wash

At the Rachel Conger benefit car wash that was held on June 27 at Advanced Auto Parts in Paris, TN organizers raised $500 to go toward the Rachel Conger search fund. We would like to thank Advanced Auto Parts for letting us have the car wash there, the kind people that donated money toward finding Rachel and our volunteers that helped to wash cars all day!

On July 12, another benefit fundraiser has been organized. We are holding a bake sale at E.W. James & Sons on West Wood/Hwy 54 in Paris, TN.

Car Wash to Raise Money

Amber's grandmother, Carol, spoke with Texas EquuSearch today and we have a target goal as to how much we need to raise. Our target goal is $4,000 and we will start working toward that goal on June 27th, 2008. Amber has organized a car wash at Advanced Auto Parts, on Mineral Wells Avenue in Paris starting at 9:00 a.m. She has also talked to several local businesses about leaving donation jars in their stores. I will update the blog with those locations as soon as the donation jars are in place.

So, to remind everyone,

Car Wash

Advanced Auto Parts on Mineral Wells Avenue in Paris

Friday, 06/27/08 at 9:00 a.m.

Fundraisers for Rachel...

Amber spoke with Texas EquuSearch on Friday, and learned that although they would like to come up here to search for Rachel they cannot right now to do the soaring fuel costs. With that being said, Amber has decided to organize several fundraisers to help collect donations to bring Texas EquuSearch up here to search for Rachel. In the works right now are a car wash, bake sale and yard sale (all to be held at different locations, we will update the blog when we have confirmed dates). There will also be donation boxes set up in local stores. (I will update the blog with the locations when they are confirmed.) We are also organizing a benefit night to raise money, and are going to start contacting local bands to see if they would like to participate. We just wanted to let everyone know what was going on, and what we are planning. If anyone has any suggestions or ideas, please let us know!

May 2008

Amber has created a Myspace page to help bring awareness to her missing mother, Rachel Conger. Here is the link: Myspace page to Bring Rachel Conger Home

On May 15th, we spoke with a retired investigator, who has been brought in by the Henry County Sheriff's Department to work solely on Rachel's case. He is basically going over everything in the case. He did not have any news for us, but that was to be expected.

The last blog referenced a psychic that we have contacted. People seem to have mixed reactions to this- however, we are doing whatever we can to help Amber find her mother. Whether it be calling in a psychic, contacting a professional search organization or staying in contact with the Sheriff's Department- we will do whatever it takes to help Amber get the answers that she needs and deserves.

If anyone ever needs to contact us, please do so at lksimmons@gmail.com or bringrachelcongerhome@hotmail.com. Everyone, please keep praying for Amber and Rachel.

*Edited on July 7th, 2008- We wanted to let everyone know our updated thoughts on contacting a psychic. It was not a good idea and since then, we have concentrated our attention on contacting Search and Rescue Organizations that actually have a chance at finding Rachel. We still pray that God will lead us to Rachel, and continue to ask for your prayers for Amber and Rachel.

Finding Rachel...

On a suggestion, we recently decided to contact someone that might be able to help us a little bit more in the search for Rachel. She is a psychic medium and remote viewer. This in no way diminishes the tremendous efforts of all that have helped us before, and continue to help, in the search for Rachel. But, for Amber's sake, we need to pursue every avenue that we can to find Rachel as soon as possible. We did give the information to the Sheriff's Department, and hopefully, we find Rachel soon through whatever means necessary.

We appreciate that the Henry County Sheriff's Department is understanding of the fact that Amber, and Rachel's entire family, need answers and will pursue those answers in any way possible. The Henry County Sheriff's Department has been supportive of every idea that we have came up with, and we would just like to say thank you. Every single person involved in this investigation is working toward one common goal: to bring Rachel home. We are still grateful to everyone that has been involved thus far, and our thoughts and prayers are with every single one of you that are involved in the effort to find Rachel. I truly believe that the Lord will lead us to her, we just have to keep the faith that it will happen.

A Blessing Service for Those Who have Someone Missing

Let Us Pray

God our Father,
your Son Jesus Christ as a child
was lost in the chaos of a great city
and was restored to the love of his family;
watch over Rachel, now missing, for whom we pray
and protect her with your love.
Be near to those who are anxious for her;
let your presence change their sorrow into comfort,
their anxiety into trust, their despair into faith,
that they may know your loving purposes.
And this we ask in the name of Jesus our Lord,
who loves and lives and cares for all your children.
Amen.



This Blessing for the missing was found online at Missing.WS http://www.missing.ws/_prayer/prayer.asp a website dedicated to missing people in Ireland. I am responsible for inserting Rachel's name in the blessing.
(Taken from Magee Brian, ed. The Veritas Book of Blessing Prayers. Dublin: Veritas, 1989, p. 140)

Searching for Rachel

It has been several weeks since I have updated the blog with any information. For those that read daily, I apologize. However, there hasn't been much to update. I spoke with a woman from Texas EquuSearch on April 15, who was extremely helpful and friendly. Texas EquuSearch is a great organization, who help so many families that are in the same situation as Rachel's family. One look at their web site tells you just how busy these people are. They have put Rachel's picture on their website, as well as a missing poster when you click on the photo. Link to Texas EquuSearch Missing Poster.

Amber spoke with Sheriff Monte Belew on April 30, and he told her that someone new is on the case, and he will be going over all the information that they have so far and reinterviewing people. I would like to ask everyone to please continue to keep Amber and Rachel in your thoughts and prayers. Hopefully, a resolution to this situation will come soon.

"The Henry Countian" Coverage of Candlelight Vigil & Additional Thank You

To read about the candlelight vigil that was held for Rachel Conger, please visit this link to The Henry Countian website:

Conger Family Thanks Well-Wishers at Vigil

We would like to say thank you to Shannon McFarlin, of The Henry Countian, who has consistently written articles that are respectful and informative of the investigation and search for Rachel. Once again, we would like to thank everyone that attended the vigil. We would also like to thank Sheriff Monte Belew, Mrs. Maggie Johansen, and Mr. William Ellis for speaking at the vigil. Amber is also very appreciative to Whitney & Jeremy Buckelew for their participation in the event.

We will post more updates as they come in, hopefully, God will intervene and something will happen to bring some answers soon.

Thank you!

Thank you to everyone that came out tonight to support Amber, and the rest of Rachel's family. I know that the weather was not favorable, but it means so much to us that each and everyone of you took time out of your lives to come out and support Amber and her family. Henry County truly is a county that cares about their neighbors, and we thank everyone for their support.

Reminder: Candlelight Vigil

We would like to remind everyone about the candlelight vigil for Rachel on April 13 at 7:00 pm. We have tried to get the word out regarding the vigil via the local media, but we are not sure how well that has worked out. (However, a very big thank you goes to The Henry Countian, who has posted several reminders regarding the vigil on their current headlines and calendar.)


Amber has organized this vigil to pray for her mother, but I would like to ask everyone to please keep Amber in your thoughts and prayers, as well. She may be young, but she is wise beyond her years and has taken this horrible situation and stepped up to make decisions and try to get updates on the search for her mother. With all that, she is still a girl that loves her mother and misses her very much. She needs answers and she needs prayer.

Please keep Rachel and Amber in your prayers, and please join us on Sunday night, if at all possible.

Custom T-shirts for vigil

We have created T-shirts that we are planning on wearing to the Candlelight Vigil, and thought that we would provide the link for others to purchase one, if they wanted to.

Rachel7, Bring Rachel Home, Missin... - Customizedbybrh2008
Get this custom shirt at Zazzle

A Mother's Love

I love the way Rachel is looking at Amber in this picture.

Card of Thanks

Amber put this card of thanks in the Paris Post-Intelligencer in the Tuesday, April 1 edition of the PI.