KILGORE, Texas — Rosemary Rodriguez, 54, has lived in Gregg County for nearly two decades, but on Oct. 8, her family reported her missing. The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office has been searching for her ever since her family filed the report.
“And we have no intention of slowing down,” said Lt. Josh Tubbs.
Rodriguez was last seen Oct. 7. According to authorities, she was wearing a blue Walmart smock and blue pants driving her green 2014 Chevy Sonic from her boyfriend’s house on Mt. Pigsah Road in Kilgore.
That is where Lt. Tubbs says the search began and continues.
“Our patrol officers, they immediately began finding any routes that were regularly taken and looking for possible, maybe vehicle crash sites where someone may have ran off the road and not been seen from the roadway,” Tubbs said. “That is continued up to today. They're constantly looking to make sure that nothing has been missed.”
He also says the sheriff’s office has conducted search parties in the area.
“Our Criminal Investigation Division has organized several searches in different locations,” Tubbs explained. “Utilizing a whole lot of man hours."
As well as using their own resources, Tubbs says they are working with other local law enforcement agencies.
Rodriguez’s disappearance is being investigated as a criminal case, which Tubbs says is because of information investigators have found. However, due to the case being an open investigation, the sheriff's office is unable to share many details about that information.
“We want her to be brought home safe. We want her to be found safe,” Tubbs said.
While the authorities are searching for Rodriguez, Tubbs advises that others should not try to join in the search.
“We need to make sure everybody is aware that they cannot go on other people's property without permission,” Tubbs said. “And we can't encourage, anything like that because there is an inherent danger of going into any wooded area or any place like that.”
Gregg County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading investigators to the location of Rodriguez.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office at (903) 236-8408. You may also call Crime Stoppers at (903) 236-STOP or email at greggcountycrimestoppers.org.