KOKOMO, Ind. -- It’s been one year since Karena McClerkin vanished from Kokomo without a trace and family and friends say they’re not giving up on the search to find her.
Karena was 18 years old when she went missing on October 11, 2016. She was last seen walking in the 1100 block of South Washington Street.
Gerry McClerkin took to the streets on Wednesday, the one-year anniversary of her granddaughter’s disappearance, armed with photographs and signs begging anyone with information to come forward.
She was joined by family and friends of Karena, who all want the same thing – to bring Karena home.
“I implore you if you know anything come forward and let us know where she is,” said Gerry. “We want Karena back one way or the other, so this family can have peace.
Police say the case is still open. They’ve executed search warrants and pursued several leads but have not turned up any information on where Karena might be.
“We’ve gotten several different locations over the year that have not been fruitful,” said Kokomo Police Department Captain Tonda Cockrell. “But that’s not discouraging us from pursuing leads until we do have a resolution to this.”
Karena would have celebrated her 19th birthday in September.
Gerry says she will continue to search until she finds her granddaughter.
“The last thing my granddaughter said to me – she held my hand and said, ‘I’ll be alright grandma, I’ll be alright.'"
If you have any information on her whereabouts or about the case call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
