Woman, great-granddaughter from New Jersey go missing on drive to North Carolina
MAYS LANDING, New Jersey (WTVD) -- There are Christmas presents sitting under a tree waiting to be open by 71-year-old Barbara Briley and her 5-year-old great-granddaughter La'Myra. The two vanished Christmas Eve while traveling from New Jersey to North Carolina for the holiday.
Relatives have been on the road searching for the pair and clocking hundreds of miles.
"I am beyond exhausted but at this point that really doesn't matter. I need them found," said niece Marcella Rorie, who lives in Raleigh. "We are absolutely concerned that they have been in a vehicle for over 72 hours now."
The family is canvassing the Petersburg area of 1-85 in Virginia, where Briley's cell phone was last detected.
Relatives are checking every inch of the interstate to see if the Briley's silver Toyota Rav 4 ran off the road. Family is also passing out fliers at rest stops.
SEE THE FLIERS BEING DISTRIBUTED (.pdf)
"We have basically been up and down the highway taking different paths. We actually have three vehicles in a caravan right now," said Rorie. "We kept stopping at gas stations and handing out fliers and just talking to people."
Briley was last seen at a gas station in central Virginia. She was lost and needed help with directions. She explained to a clerk she didn't know how to work the map on her phone.
"I can't believe that I actually physically spent time with her and helped her get to her destination and she didn't make it," said clerk Joanne Strange.
Family says Briley's credit cards have not been used since the start of her trip and she does not have any known medical conditions.
"We are holding out hope that she is simply a little disoriented and is trying to find a way to get back onto her route and that were going to roll into her. That is our prayer," said Rorie.
Briley is 5'5 tall and weighs 215 pounds.
La'Myra was last spotted in a gray camouflage sweat hoodie and gray sweat pants.
The Sheriff's Office in Anson County, North Carolina, says it is working with Hamilton Township Police.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police.
