Friends and family remember Jacque Waller four months after her disappearance

Jacque Waller has now been missing for four months. But that hasn't deterred searchers from combing hundreds more acres, or supporters of her family from gathering and continuing to pray.

Bobby Sherrill led a 25-person team from the CUE Center for Missing Persons and a few community volunteers on another search of approximately 200 acres from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday in four locations near the Jackson city limits. The places searched were determined by law enforcement to be of areas interest. Sherrill, from Jackson, is a childhood friend of Jacque Waller.

Prosecutors have named Jacque Waller's estranged husband Clay Waller as a suspect connected to her disappearance. Authorities say Clay Waller was the last person to see her before she disappeared from the Jackson home where he was staying.

Although searchers came up empty-handed again Saturday, Sherrill said consolation lies in knowing that every search held takes more area off the map for law enforcement, and through a process of elimination Jacque Waller will be found.

"I'm not going to stop looking, and my teams aren't going to stop looking," Sherrill said. "Even if we're not the ones who find her, we'll know we contributed to making it happen."

Stan and Ruby Rawson, parents of Jacque Waller, speak at a vigil Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011 marking fourth months since her disappearance. The gathering was held outside Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Clay Waller is currently in the custody of federal marshals and will face an Internet harassment charge in federal court, in addition to state charges of theft and harassment unrelated to Jacque Waller's disappearance. While Clay Waller has been in custody, county prosecutors have been working to build a case against him in the disappearance of Jacque Waller.

Last week, Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle submitted an application to preserve testimony from Clay Waller's father, James Clay Waller Sr., that alleges Clay Waller confessed to breaking Jacque Waller's neck during a fight and burying her body.

Jacque Waller's parents, Stan and Ruby Rawson, attended two vigils held in the area Saturday by friends of Jacque Waller to commemorate the four-month anniversary of Jacque's disappearance. One vigil was held on the campus of Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Mo., where Jacque Waller graduated in 1992. Laura Long Helbig, a family friend, said the group of around 30 people at the college vigil released 100 purple balloons to remember Jacque and to observe Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The vigil also included prayer and music.

Saturday night in Cape Girardeau, the Rawsons spoke to around 50 people who gathered for a candlelight vigil in the parking lot of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, where Jacque Waller worked for nine years.

"It's been horrible," Ruby Rawson said. "I can't even believe sometimes that this is my life. Your family is your life, and a part of mine is missing. But thanks to all of you here, her memory is alive."

Stan Rawson spoke of Jacque and Clay Waller's 5-year-old triplets, Addison, Avery and Maddox, who are now in the care of Jacque Waller's sister and brother-in-law, Cheryl and Bob Brennecke. Stan Rawson said the children are unsure why their mother hasn't returned, and are too young to be told.

"When we find their mom, we'll cross that bridge," he said. "And that will be a big bridge to cross."

Bridget Sample was among the co-workers who organized the vigil. Sample said she and Jacque Waller were best friends at work.

"It's still so weird to say that my best friend is missing, and its been four months," Sample said. "Its surreal."

Several people who spoke during the vigil said they never knew Jacque Waller, but feel drawn to the situation surrounding her disappearance.

"When I first heard about this it just struck a chord with me," said Stephen Hobbs, who posts prayers on the Facebook page "Find Jacque S. Waller," and now communicates often with the Rawson family.

Michele Litz, a spiritual growth director from New McKendree United Methodist Church in Jackson, led prayers for the attendees.

After several people had spoken, the group sang "Amazing Grace."

Southeast Missourian reporter Patrick T. Sullivan contributed to this report.

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