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Whitby family hope Carmen's still alive
POLICE investigating the disappearance of missing mum Carmen Thomas are not ruling out the former Whitby Community College student may be found alive.
Carmen, who has family in Whitby, was working in Auckland, New Zealand, when she vanished on 1 July.
She has not been seen since.
Last week her Whitby-born mum Teresa Scott (52) flew from her home in South Africa to New Zealand to help in the search for her daughter and take part in a press conference.
Detective Inspector Mark Benefield, who is leading the enquiry, said he acknowledged things were looking "sinister" at this stage of the investigation but they are not giving up hope of finding her alive.
Carmen had been working as an escort although her family had no knowledge of this and say the only reason she would have done it was for survival and out of love for her son Jack aged five.
In the bid to find her, a Facebook group called Carmen Thomas was set up by her aunt Carol Lavagna, of Fairmead Court, which has now got more than 1,100 members.
Nina Humble, Carmen's cousin, told the Whitby Gazette Teresa was due to fly back to Durban yesterday.
"My auntie is is very distressed as there is no news or leads, the enquiry is still been treated as a missing person.
"The nearby river has been dragged, it is still the waiting game," said Mrs Humble.
"She was hoping that there would have been progress on the investigation whilst she was there.
"She said the police in New Zealand are really treating her well and have a lot of resources on the investigation.
"Friends of Carmen in New Zealand have got together to put out fliers, everyone is just feeling helpless and desperate.
"Teresa has met with her grandson Jack on a few occassions while she has been there, she has enjoyed being with him.The whole family are still finding this difficult, just hoping each day that we will hear some positive news."
Mrs Humble added the messages on Carmen's Facebook page are testament to how the 32-year-old has touched the lives of so many people and all those who met her and loved her.
"There are so many people awaiting good news and I am sure there are many out there who are finding this really difficult to cope with," she said.
"I know lots of people will have their opinions about what they think has happened, but personally, I believe that Carmen will eventually turn up or be found safe.
"I have to believe that, I can't bear to think of the alternative.
"Carmen is an amazing person, she fills a room with life and laughter.
"She has a kind heart, is fun-loving and warm and she is a devoted mother, Jack is her world.
"It is really hard for all the family here as I am sure it is for her friends too.
"We all have so many unanswered questions, things don't make sense.
"It is frustrating and feels like we should be doing more but I don't know what more we can do. As time goes by, the media hype is less. I just don't want people to give up or forget.
"We want to keep this in the public eye and as worldwide as possible someone, somewhere has to know something.
"People don't just vanish.Carmen is a mother, a daughter and a much-loved family member and friend. Her work did not define her as a person."
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Saturday 19 May 2012
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