A scary and strange disappearance. This is happening right now in my neighborhood.

[andreame70]

Police and rescue units are narrowing their search to my neighborhood. They are dragging the river, all the local ponds, streams and waterways. I do not know the woman or her grand-daughter, but I do know a few relatives of theirs. I feel so bad for this family. This whole thing is just scary and bizarre.


N.C. residents vanish en route to Roanoke, VA

A Roanoke, VA family has spent several agonizing days waiting as authorities search for two family members who went missing en route from Kinston, N.C., to Roanoke early Tuesday.

Janice Gail Haddock-Dail, 58, and her 15-year-old granddaughter, Heather Roberts, never arrived in Roanoke on Monday night as planned, said Haddock-Dail's niece, Deb Jones. Jones said the last communication that anyone had with her aunt was a mysterious cellphone call early Tuesday morning.

After their home burned down early last week, Haddock-Dail and her granddaughter had been living in a hotel in Kinston, which is southeast of Raleigh, Jones said. She said the cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

The pair planned to travel to Roanoke to spend time with family and celebrate Haddock-Dail's brother's birthday this week. Haddock-Dail spoke to her sisters about 7:30 p.m. Monday and told them she was about to leave the hotel and head to Roanoke.

Grady Hewitt of Roanoke, who is Haddock-Dail's brother, received a telephone call about 3:15 a.m. Tuesday from the woman's estranged husband in North Carolina.

Glenn Dail told his brother-in-law that he had just received a strange call from Haddock-Dail. Jones said her aunt simply said, "Help! We're in the car, and we're drowning."

Glenn Dail told relatives that the cellphone connection fizzled at that point. He has also said that he heard screams and a noise like someone pounding on the car windows in the background.

Neither Haddock-Dail nor Roberts has been seen or heard from since. Jones said Roberts requires constant medical care because of birth defects and burns she suffered in an accident several years ago. She uses an oxygen tank.

According to the Kinston Free Press, the Kinston Department of Public Safety immediately launched an investigation into the disappearances, searching local waterways with boats, all-terrain vehicles and a helicopter.

Jones said authorities as far away as Roanoke were notified of the disappearance, but the investigation has since been centered on Kinston. That's because police traced a cellular phone call made from Haddock-Dail's phone to her husband's phone at 2:58 a.m. Tuesday, and they believe it was made in the Kinston area.

Jones said her family is further confused by that determination because they thought their loved ones left Kinston just after they spoke to relatives at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

The Free Press noted that the ground search was called off in North Carolina after about 24 fruitless hours. But Jones said her family was told by police that they have "absolutely not stopped searching."

Haddock-Dail, who goes by her middle name, Gail, is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall, about 155 pounds, with green eyes and shoulder-length dark brown hair. Roberts has long, dark brown hair, brown eyes and is about 5 feet 3 inches tall and 130 pounds. She has multiple burn scars on her face and body.

Jones said her aunt was driving a blue 1998 Dodge Caravan with the license plate "GAIL-RN."

Police have told Haddock-Dail's relatives that they are investigating the fire as well as the disappearance, but Jones said it is unclear whether the two are related.

"It's so weird. It's like she's been wiped off the face of the Earth," Jones said of her aunt. "As her family, it's our responsibility to do anything we can to locate her."

If people have information about the whereabouts of Gail Haddock-Dail or Heather Roberts, they are urged to call their local police department or Police Cmdr. Greg Thompson in Kinston at (252)939-3188.

The Kinston Free Press

Andrea

[msmom79]

Wow I Hope They Are Found Soon And That They Are Safe.my Prayers And Thoughts Are With This Family..

[ajksmom]

I don't live to far from Roanoke and this has been all over our local news here. I really hope that they find them. The whole situation sounds a little fishy to me.

[buglebe]

It sounds fishy to me too. I bet we will find out the ex is involved in it. If they were supposed to leave so early, why did they leave so late and no one know?

[YankeeMary]

I will keep them in my prayers. I pray they are found alive and well.

[andreame70]

There are several things about this that really bother me. I have been thinking about it a lot the last few days. Every time I step out of the house, I see police cars and rescue vehicles all over the neighborhood, so it keeps it fresh in my mind.

First, from what I understand, she called her sister in VA at about 7:30 pm on Monday night to tell her that they were about to leave and head for VA. No one hears anything else from her at all, until the cell phone call is made to her estranged husband and almost 3:00 am Tuesday morning (he claims.) By all rights, they should have arrived in VA within 4-5 hours (around midnight or so on Monday night.) No one can account for where she and her grand-daughter were between 7:30 pm on Monday night and the time of the cell call (3am) Tuesday morning. They have tracked down the cell call and they say that it originated in Lenoir County (where we live) and because of the towers that were used for the transmission, it appears that the call was made within my neighborhood or closely surrounding it.

The second thing that bothers me is this...if I am in serious trouble and have an emergency, do you think I am going to call my soon to be ex-husband for help? No, I think I am going to call 911 instead. So, I have to wonder if he is telling the whole truth about the call. The police know that a call was placed at the time he said from her cell phone to his. But, did she actually make the call, or was it somehow set up to make it look like she did? If the man is telling the truth, then I really feel sorry for him to have to endure all the suspicion. Something just seems wrong about it to me.

Friends and family say that she and her estranged husband have an amicable separation and that they talk and see each other occasionally, because of the grand-daughter. However, I have also heard "rumors" that the woman was awaiting a large settlement from her house fire that happened a week or two ago and she also had life insurance on her and the child, which the estranged husband would have still been beneficiary of, at least until the settlement of the divorce, which is still pending. Unfortunately, this does show a motive for him, so it does not look good.

This woman is known around town as being a very strong willed Christian lady, with a heart of gold. A friend mentioned to me that the grand-child was abandoned by her mother when the little girl was an infant. The child was born with multiple birth defects and I guess the mother didn't feel that she could care for her. The grandmother, who is a highly respected 25 year veteran Registered Nurse at our local hospital, took in the grand-child and raised her as her own. The grandmother has written numerous articles, poems and a few books that actually were published about her grand-daughter. Disappearing like this, is just not something she would do. She is still employed here at the hospital and they have been holding candlelight vigils for her and the grandchild since this happened. Many people from the hospital are just devastated, they all seem to love her and hold her in such high regard.

I just hope and pray that they can find them. Everyone is starting to lose hope, after this long without hearing from them. It is such a tragedy and I pray for the family and for the grandmother and grandchild.

I will keep you updated as I know more.

Andrea

[Denise1972]

that does sound strange... but if she did call her ex, maybe it was a speed dial on her phone? maybe it was the first number in the phone book on the cell that she hit in a panic.. I know if you hold down the 9 key in cell phones it calls 911. I think it does that with speed dial too? you hold down a certain number and it calls the person accociated with the number? I am not to sure how that works with speed dial on cell phones. I may be wrong. I will keep these 2 in my thoughts. It so sad to hear about things like this around the holidays.

[BlueBerriTerri]

If she called the ex husband at 2:58 and then he called the woman's brother at 3:15am--what was he doing for 17 minutes? Did he call anyone else? 911? That seems like a long time to not do anything--even if you're in shock. I mean, it seems like he would have called SOMEBODY before 17 minutes passed, even if he was looking for the brother's number. But stranger things have happened, I guess.

[andreame70]

If she called the ex husband at 2:58 and then he called the woman's brother at 3:15am--what was he doing for 17 minutes? Did he call anyone else? 911?

Yes, the articles that I have read locally over the last few days say that after he received the call from her cell phone, he immediately called 911 here and they got on the phone with 911 in VA and did a three way, so both states could start looking. At that time, they figured that she was already somewhere in VA. It was later that they got her cell phone records and found out that the call originated from the county where we live. It appears that she never left the area, even though she called her sisters and said they were on the way.

Andrea

[Tasha405]

I hope they find her and her grand daughter soon! This is a strange story. Some things just don't add up. Please keep us updated.

[andreame70]

I just found this posted through our local paper. I cannot believe that they are just going to stop looking and wait in hopes of more leads coming in! Sigh..this has to be gut wrenching on this family!

Police suspend search
December 14,2004
Karen McConkey
staff writer

The search for a missing Kinston woman and her disabled granddaughter has been suspended until law enforcement officials receive more leads in the case.

Officer Woody Spencer with Kinston's Department of Public Safety confirmed Monday police have exhausted their leads surrounding the Dec. 7 disappearance of 58-year-old Gail Haddock-Dail and her granddaughter, 15-year-old Heather Lynne Roberts.

"At this point in time, there are no active searches," Spencer said. "We are waiting for more leads to come in."

Searchers and investigators have searched all ponds in the county and the area along N.C. 55 East. Last Friday, N.C. State Highway Patrol helicopters conducted an aerial search for the two women who went missing a week ago.

The news of Haddock-Dail and Roberts' disappearance was especially hard for Larrene Hagaman, director of the Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage, Mo. Hagaman has known the two missing women about eight years, she said.

"I learned about this Saturday from a coworker of Gail's at the hospital who called me," Hagaman said.

Hagaman first met Haddock-Dail when she called the Precious Moments company in 1996 asking about items she could buy for a Precious Moments birthday party for Roberts.

"After we heard her story, we went to Mr. (Sam) Butcher," Hagaman said.

Roberts was born with multiple birth defects that affected her heart, her brain and her respiratory system. She was given minimal chances of survival at birth.

When Butcher, the company's founder, heard about her, he flew Haddock-Dail and Roberts to Carthage for a birthday party in the company's Inspiration Park.

"Mr. Butcher gave Heather a doll with her name on the doll's dress," Hagaman recalled. "Heather and the doll were dressed almost identically."

Hagaman and Haddock-Dail's friendship grew. Not long afterward, Haddock-Dail returned to Inspiration Park with her then fiancé, Glenn Dail, and Roberts. Hagaman said her husband officiated at the Dail's wedding ceremony in the Precious Moments Chapel, and she was a witness and a participant in the services.

When Roberts was severely burned at age 8, Hagaman flew more than 1,500 miles with the Precious Moments special mascot, Timmy the Angel, to Chapel Hill.

"We visited Heather and several other children there in the hospital. It was a very warm experience," she said.

Hagaman said she and Haddock-Dail have always talked frequently by phone. She said Haddock-Dail called her the night she and Roberts were taken to Lenoir Memorial Hospital after a fire broke out recently at their Roseanne Drive home. The fire is still under investigation.

"She called me from the hospital and said she wasn't sure of the condition of the house," Hagaman said.

Hagaman may have been one of the few people to speak with Haddock-Dail before her Dec. 7 disappearance.

"I called her on Monday night to tell her about the money that was raised at our fundraiser," Hagaman said.

The Precious Moment's Collector's Event raised $1,270 for Haddock-Dail and Heather the weekend before their disappearance.

The news of the two women's disappearance is felt all the way through the company, Hagaman said.

"This is one of the most compelling stories I have ever been a part of," Hagaman said. "The faces of both Heather and Gail have always been an inspiration. The loss of them for this world, if that turns out to be the case, would be an unfortunate thing. But I am sure if that is the case, they are in heaven together, and it is heaven's gain."

[Hollie1974]

I just found this posted through our local paper. I cannot believe that they are just going to stop looking and wait in hopes of more leads coming in! Sigh..this has to be gut wrenching on this family!



I can't believe it either. How horrible. :(

[Blondiex46]

You know if the ex had something to do with it HE might just have the phone, ya know. So I am assuming that they are looking in all the lakes and ponds,etc in and around where she was going. But if someone had something to do with it maybe the water they are looking in is not around where she was going, does that make sense?

[ang in NC]

i say that is NC for you. I can't believe they quit searching? Does seem strange all of it.

[belleofpa]

You know if the ex had something to do with it HE might just have the phone, ya know. So I am assuming that they are looking in all the lakes and ponds,etc in and around where she was going. But if someone had something to do with it maybe the water they are looking in is not around where she was going, does that make sense?

Thats what I was just thinking after reading all of this. Could he have made the call from "her" cell phone to his? What about the hotel they were staying in? Didn't they check to see what time the two checked out? This might narrow the time frame a bit.

It doesnt add up.

[andreame70]

The paper here has been pretty tight lipped about any new info today. I think that the police know more than they have been able to make public. I am also thinking that maybe he was with her at sometime that night and set this up, somewhere between here and VA. Then he came back here with her cell phone and called his cell phone from hers within my neighborhood. He would have had time to make it all the way to VA and then back to NC in the time that she was missing from 7:30pm until almost 3:00am the next day. There is a heck of a lot of water between here and there.

Andrea

[Jaidness]

ugh how many men are going to do this in spite of Petersen getting the penalty? How selfish is it to think that a person..especially a childs life is of less value than anything else? Sick selfish self absorbed people ugh!