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Laynee Westbrook’s family and friends are in desperate need of answers as their search for the 41-year-old Washington woman enters its fourth month.
“It’s been 116 days and we still don’t have any answers,” Laynee’s sister-in-law, Emily Pepper, told Dateline. “We have nothing, nothing that can lead us to Laynee.
Laynee has been missing since September 10, 2020. According to her family, Laynee and her beloved dog, a rat terrier named “Precious,” were seen on a 7:11 pm security video leaving the San Juan Motel in Anacortes, Washington, and get into a white Dodge Ram truck with a man she knew. Laynee, who works at Safeway, had been living in the motel since July, her family said.
She was seen again shortly after, at 7:30 p.m., at the Chevron gas station next to the Swinomish Casino with the same man. His sister-in-law Emily told Dateline the man said he came to pick her up and they went to a nearby campsite where he was staying. He then reportedly dropped Laynee off between 2 and 3 a.m. at Causland Memorial Park, which is about two blocks from the motel.
On September 13, Laynee’s mother Barb received a call from the motel. They were trying to reach Laynee because she hadn’t paid rent and no one had seen or heard from her for several days.
“It appeared to Barb that she hadn’t spoken to him for a few days, so she started to panic,” Emily said. “She called her, and we all called her, but no one could reach her.
Laynee’s mother reported her missing to the Anacortes Police Department.
Captain Dave Floyd told Dateline the case was an open and active investigation and detectives were reviewing and following any advice they received.
“We received an impressive amount of tips early on,” said Capt Floyd. “It slowed down a bit, but we are going through the stages and progressing slowly. We are always open to any advice that might help you find Laynee. It doesn’t matter how big it is. “
In the days following Laynee’s disappearance, her family and friends began their own investigation by putting together a timeline leading up to her disappearance. Her sister-in-law, along with her childhood best friend Michelle Hanson, set up search teams, spoke to witnesses and provided information to detectives.
“Campers who were at the campsite the night she went missing had called the ranger to report that two people were arguing over a missing dog,” Emily said. “Something happened that night. She disappeared. Her dog is missing. She never returned to the motel.
Captain Floyd told Dateline he couldn’t elaborate on some of the details of what happened on September 10, 2020, but confirmed that there had been no activity on Laynee’s cell phone or her bank account since using her debit card the day she was last seen.
“At this point, we don’t have enough information to determine that foul play is a factor in its demise,” said Capt Floyd. “We recognize that the circumstances show that this could be a possibility, but we hope it is not.”
Laynee’s brother, Tom, sister-in-law, Emily, and best friend Michelle, all of whom live in Sedro-Woolley, Wash., Continue their search for answers while keeping family members who live in Colorado at current.
Laynee’s sister Stephanie Hess told Dateline she felt helpless to be so far away, but said she would not stop fighting to find Laynee.
“Our hearts are heavy and our hearts are broken, but we will continue until we bring her home,” Stephanie said. “We just want to find her.”
Stephanie described her sister as a beautiful person with a bubbly personality and an infectious laugh who loved her friends and family with all her heart… someone who would never want to see her family in pain.
“Laynee wouldn’t go away and let no one know,” added her best friend Michelle. “If she needed a break, she would say so. But she would never let us worry like that.
As birthdays and holidays passed, Laynee’s family began to lose hope.
“She never failed to call her mom to say happy birthday to her,” Emily told Dateline. “But Barb’s birthday came and went on November 19th. And no call. She is devastated. We are all.”
Laynee’s own birthday, her 42nd, is approaching January 31.
“We would love for her to introduce herself and want to celebrate her birthday,” Emily said. “But I think we know deep down that this is not going to happen. Even so, we don’t give up.
A missing person signs with photos of Laynee and her puppy “Precious” plastering the small town of Anacortes and surrounding areas offering a reward of $ 10,000 for information leading to Laynee’s whereabouts. Her family said they hope this encourages someone who knows something to come forward.
“We just need answers,” Emily said. “We’ve done everything we know to do at this point.”
As they continue to search for Laynee – and hope for a miracle – they keep her memory alive with a candlelight vigil every month on the 10th. The next is coming Sunday.
“Sometimes it just feels like her case isn’t important, like no one wants to help her,” Emily said. “It’s not a woman. She’s not a mom. But she’s someone for us. Shouldn’t that be enough?
Laynee is 5’9 “tall, weighs 120 lbs, and has medium brown hair and hazel eyes. She was last seen wearing a black shirt, blue jeans and white sandals. Her dog, Precious, is a rat terrier and has a nubuck tail.
Anyone with information on Laynee’s whereabouts is urged to call Anacortes Police at 360-293-4684 during office hours or the APD hotline 360-299-1985. The file number is 20-A06084.
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