Volunteers look for missing woman Saturday; search continues today

The pretty blond who disappeared. Her three now motherless triplets. The finger-pointing at her husband as a person of interest and the cries of her family for justice.

The story of Jacque Sue Waller has haunted Debbie Kohlbacher from the start.

"I have spent a lot of time thinking about it," Kohlbacher said. "I can't get it off my mind."

That's why Kohlbacher, of Cape Girardeau, spent hours Saturday in temperatures that soared into the 90s trying to help find her. She never met Jacque, but she wants answers, too. Kohlbacher said that Jacque deserves it and that if she went missing, she hopes people would come looking for her, too.

"It just breaks my heart," Kohlbacher said. "She deserves it. Her family deserves it, and her children deserve for her to be found."

Kohlbacher was one of about 140 volunteers on Saturday who scoured more than 50 acres in heavily wooded areas for any sign of the woman has been missing since June 1. Team leaders told the crews that they weren't just looking for a body and to keep an eye out for any evidence, such as hair or clothing.

"Nothing that you find is too small," one team leader said during a briefing. "If you see something, raise your hand and say, 'Stop.'"

The search, which continues today, involves teams of about 30 people who looked in areas around South Kingshighway, at Trail of Tears State Park and other spots. By the end of the day Sunday, the teams will have combed more than 15 locations.

Saturday night, the volunteers took to johnboats, searching through several bodies of water, said Monica Caison, founder of the CUE Center for Missing Persons, which headed the second search in two weekends. Of the 140 volunteers, about 100 of them came from other places, such as Kansas, Florida, Tennessee and North Carolina.

At Trail of Tears, team members took to horses to look through the thick underbrush, riding for more than 10 miles through the park's meandering paths. In areas near South Kingshighway, the volunteers fought grass that was taller than they were in places.

Cadaver dogs were brought along, as well, to perhaps catch a scent that could lead to something more.

"These volunteers are really holding up well," Caison said. "We are really out here beating the bush to try to find her."

Where the volunteers would search was decided after a two-hour meeting with law enforcement Friday, Caison said.

Volunteers fought off the heat and ticks and tried to stay hydrated. Those who mounted one of the horses had to take time to take them to Lake Boutin at Trail of Tears to drink.

Richard Boyd came with the Eureka, Mo., Fire, Search and Rescue Team. He rode more than 10 miles through the woods at Trail of Tears. He took a break to let his horse take a drink.

"We're here helping because we want the family to have closure," Boyd said. "That's our reward. Somebody's lost. Somebody needs help. You hear that and you want to do what you can."

Those who want to help today should report to the staging area at 8 a.m. at the Sale Barn/Livestock Auction Barn at 7505 U.S. 61 in Jackson.

Caison and others try to remain optimistic, even as the number of days since Jacque's disappearance continues to grow. Caison said it's more than just lip service when she says that she believes Jacque will be found.

"I do believe that, I really do," she said. "I think as many people out there continuing to look for her, our mission will be successful."

Not everyone agrees. Kohlbacher, for instance, said that she'd like to think that Jacque will be found.

"But I don't," she said. "I don't think she will be found, but I hope she is."

smoyers@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

7505 U.S. 61, Jackson MO