By Natalie Aldridge
The parents of a 19-year-old BYU student who disappeared four days ago pleaded for information regarding her disappearance in a press conference Thursday, May 27 .
Greg and Cammy Wilberger, parents of Brooke Wilberger, tearfully asked the public to report any information that could quicken their daughter''s safe return. Their daughter disappeared from an apartment complex in Corvallis, Ore., Monday morning, where she was helping her sister clean lamps in complex parking lot. The family alerted police Monday afternoon and have been working with authorities to bring their daughter home since then.
'The hardest part is just not knowing what happened,' Greg Wilberger said. 'We try not to think about what is actually going on because we just can''t handle that.'
The Wilberger family has been working non-stop with local authorities and the media to get the word out about the young woman''s abduction four days ago. Her parents appeared on national television earlier this week and discussed Brooke''s disappearance. They are handing out buttons, flyers, and small laminated cards with Brooke''s picture and the tip line phone number, and hope to have a Web site operational by Friday.
Greg Wilberger said his family remains optimistic but the passing days have somewhat dampened their spirits.
'It is wearing on the family,' he said. 'It has been hard to sleep.'
Wilberger said the parents of Elizabeth Smart have contacted them and encouraged the family not to give up hope. Both families are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Wilberger said their strong faith is helping them cope with his daughter''s disappearance.
While the Wilberger family relies on their faith to handle the quickly passing days since Brooke''s disappearance, police are focusing on finding information that will help further the investigation progress.
'We are going to continue until we can come up with something tangible that we can use to bring Brooke back home,' said Lt. Ron Noble, an investigator with the Corvallis Police Department.
So far in the investigation, police have not discovered any solid leads. The only investigative tool they have is a pair of the woman''s flip-flops that were found in the complex''s parking lot. Noble said police have interviewed several 'persons of interest' and contacted all registered sex offenders in the area. A tip line set up for the investigation has received over 500 calls, mostly possible sightings of women similar to Brooke''s description.
Hundreds of volunteers have been searching wooded areas and ravines surrounding the apartment complex and expanded Thursday''s search to include areas further south and east. Noble said the efforts will continue over the weekend.
Wilberger is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 105 to 110 pounds. She has shoulder-length blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a grey Brigham Young University sweat shirt, jeans, small hoop earrings and a ring with the initials 'CTR' engraved on it. Wilberger has a scar from a gymnastics accident on her right arm from her elbow to her wrist.
Anyone with information should call (541) 740-3640, 3641,3642, or 3643.