AMELIA COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Search efforts continued in Amelia County Monday for Olene Brooks, who has been missing since she was abducted from her home last month.
Broooks has been missing since January 21st after police say she was abducted by her ex-son-in-law, Dana William, who also strangled Brooks’ husband, Wooddell Brooks, to death.
William fatally shot himself last week when he was cornered by police in Massachusetts. There have been no signs of Woods since.
Brooks’ daughter, Sheila Smith says, “We’ve searched everything that we can think of right now, but we’re still just grasping for straws trying to figure out where we’re going to find mom.”
Brooks has now been missing for 11 days. Over the weekend, massive police search teams came up empty handed. Her family and friends are devastated.
“Olene was a hard worker; she’s a sweet person,” says longtime friend and neighbor, Evelyn Newcomb. “She was a hairstylist and she did all she could do for her family. this is a tragedy for this neighborhood.”
Search efforts in the early stages of Brooks’ disappearance were slowed because of the snow. According to Smith, William was afraid of the Woods, so they are focusing their search efforts to abandoned buildings and areas close to the road.
Her family has also gotten some less-than-conventional help.
“Strangely enough, we’ve had two mediums that have come to us wanting to give information, and they’ve mentioned buildings,” Smith added. “They’ve mentioned old churches.”
So far, search efforts have been concentrated in Amelia and Chesterfield, but could move northeast to Henrico.
Olene Brooks’ family is asking everyone for prayers as they continue to look for her.
“The whole neighborhood is in mourning for her family, you know?” Newcomb said. “Not knowing what has happened to miss Olene.”
