For several weeks, the disappearance of Gabby Petito took over the headlines. The story blanketed social media. Although many of us hoped for a safe return, it didn’t happen. Her boyfriend Brian Laundrie had murdered her. People will say at least Gabby’s family had closure because they had a body to bury.

Marc Hoover.

I wouldn’t call it closure because the family has to live with the loss of their beloved daughter. As many of you know, I do a podcast to help law enforcement generate tips for homicide victims. Occasionally, I also do cases about missing people. That’s a different loss. When someone murders a loved one, the family at least knows their loved one won’t be returning home. With a missing person, there are no answers.

Earlier this year, I spoke to an Indianapolis woman named Christina Masker, who is trying to locate her missing sister. I only wish the media would give her sister Jessica half of the publicity given to Gabby Petito.

Jessica vanished on April 15, 2013. Jessica’s aunt had given her a ride to her cousin’s home. After Jessica arrived at her cousin’s home, the two argued. Jessica left and walked to a gas station in Indianapolis. After she arrived, she called her brother for a ride home.

Her last words to her brother were that “two men came at her wrong.” He told his sister he couldn’t get her and then asked her to call their mother for a ride home. After Jessica left the gas station, no one ever saw Jessica again.

Jessica was last seen in a dangerous part of Indianapolis, often frequented by drug dealers and prostitutes.

I also want to clear up some inaccurate information. Several websites claim Jessica vanished after leaving a gas station in the 2100 block of Napoleon. This is inaccurate as she disappeared after leaving a BP gas station at 5061 E Washington St in Indianapolis. For unknown reasons, Jessica didn’t ask her mother for help. She left the gas station without telling anyone where she was going.

Jessica vanished eight years ago. What happened to her? The family filed a missing person’s report on her, but it has produced no results. Christina said Jessica would never abandon her family and especially not her children.

Christina fears someone may have abducted her sister. The family has so many questions and no answers. To better understand Jessica’s disappearance, it’s best to explain what led up to her disappearance.

Jessica had personal demons and became the mother of two children at an early age. To complicate matters more, one was born premature. Jessica also struggled with maintaining employment and finding a good relationship.

Before Jessica disappeared, she became involved in an abusive relationship with an older man. He was the father of her second child. Although Jessica had many problems, her family always loved and supported her. Christina said she thinks people will always unfairly judge her sister. They may think since just because she struggled with her personal demons, her life wasn’t meaningful. Christina wants people to realize that Jessica’s life matters. She’s still a mother, daughter, sister, and friend too many.

Although Jessica vanished eight years ago, her family remains hopeful that Jessica is still alive.

Do you know what happened to Jessica? Her family is concerned about her whereabouts. No one just disappears into thin air. If you know anything about Jessica’s disappearance, please contact the Indianapolis Police Department at 317-327-6184 or you can contact Indianapolis Crime stoppers at 317-262-TIPS or Crime Stoppers USA at 1-800-222-TIPS.

Marc is a longtime resident of Clermont County and an avid reader. Contact him through his website at www.themarcabe.com or through Facebook: www.Facebook.com/themarcabe or his twitter account @themarcabe. Marc also has a podcast called Catch my Killer where he interviews family members seeking justice for their murdered loved ones. You can listen at www.catchmykiller.com.