Four local mothers created a SWFL Missing Persons Facebook page. They felt more could be done to find missing residents after the disappearance of a local woman. The Facebook page was created by Nicole Damigos and other stay-at-home moms. They feel social media could play an important role in finding missing people in Southwest Florida. SWFL Missing Persons has more than 1,200 followers.
The top post is a picture of 30 year old Lynda Brown of Punta Gorda. She has been missing since November. Her brown hair is in a ponytail, and she’s standing next to a white horse. The post has already been shared 36 times. The group is trying to work with sheriff’s offices in the five county area.
Damigos reached out to all of them, and the Collier County Sheriff’s Office is the only one that recognized the page so far.
Lieutenant Ken Becker with the Collier County Sheriff Office’s Special Crimes Bureau, said every little bit helps.
“Helping us get the word out and a picture of the individual out that we’re looking for is only going to help, said Becker.
“The more people that are out there looking for the individual or listening for information that might help us, and if they’re willing to come forward and pass that information on to us is going to be very beneficial.”
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office and managers of the SWFL Missing Persons Page held a workshop Saturday, June 20, 2015.
Senior staff members discussed what happens when a missing persons report is filed, other common myths about missing persons reports and how search and rescue operations are conducted.
Residents also voiced their concerns about the current agency response efforts.