OCALA, FL (352today.com) – UPDATE: Crews have suspended the search for Hartley for the day with no luck finding her nor any evidence indicating where she may be. The group Missing and Murdered in Florida (MMFL) posted an update to Facebook saying they feel defeated when they can’t bring someone’s loved one home. They also thanked the volunteers who endured the hot weather. They promised to not give up until she is found. No specific plans were mentioned at this time about future searches.
ORIGINAL: The search is intensifying for a 66-year-old woman who went missing in Ocala in March.
Theresa Hartley of St. Augustine was last seen on March 10 when she went off-road driving with a friend at the Ocala National Forest.
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the truck Hartley and her friend were using got stuck. Deputies say the friend told her to stay with the vehicle while the friend went to get help. When the friend returned, Hartley was gone.
The area where Hartley was last seen is North Forest Road 88 approximately one mile south of North Forest Road 66 in the Ocala National Forest, near Lake Delancy.
Missing and Murdered in Florida (MMFL) is organizing a search this Saturday at 8:30 a.m. in an effort to find Hartley.
Cara Hartley, Theresa’s niece, is asking for you to help in any way you possibly can.
“Theresa was a daughter, a wife, an aunt, a friend to many. She’s been missing for over 5 months now. We need to find her. We can’t give up looking for her,” said Hartley as she shared pictures of her and her aunt on Facebook.
MMFL is asking for volunteers for the search on Saturday. Specifically, they are asking for people who have ATVs, trucks and other off-road vehicles to help transport people to more remote areas. They’re also asking for people with boats to assist and they’re requesting help from anyone with a drone.
Anyone wishing to volunteer should meet at the command post that will be set up at the Delancy Loop trailhead. Registration will begin at 8 a.m.