Emelene Joy VanDyke, 36, was last heard from Feb. 14.
/ Photo Courtesy: Holland Dept. of Public Safety
HOLLAND, MICH. -- Police say a person resembling a Holland woman, believed to be heading to Traverse City when she disappeared, has been spotted in New Mexico.
Emelene Joy VanDyke, 36, sent a text message around 6pm on Feb. 14 after she purchased a new car from an Ottawa Co. dealership and withdrew a significant amount of money from her bank.
VanDyke said she was heading to a retreat in Traverse City when she disappeared. Police say VanDyke had taken scheduled time off from her work and was due back on the Feb. 19 but she did not show up.
Holland Police were told by the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC) that a vehicle matching the plate number of VanDyke's car was scanned by a stationary unmanned license plate reader (LPR) on US-70 near Alamagordo, New Mexico around 3:50pm Sunday, March 10.
Since that information was obtained, detectives with the Holland Dept. of Public Safety have checked pictures of the Hyundai Accent and believe it is the same vehicle. Investigators say the while female driver in the pictures resemble Emelene VanDyke. It appears the woman is the only person in the car.
Law enforcement agencies in that region and the surrounding states were notified to locate and check the well being of the driver of the vehicle however at this time the vehicle has not been located.
Further efforts to locate Emelene will be increased and focused on this area with the hopes of reuniting her with her family.
The car involved is a grey four-door 2013 Hyundai Accent with a Michigan license plate number CGE1862.
Anyone with any information about this case is urged to call the Holland Department of Public Safety at 616-355-1100 or the detectives on the case at 616-355-1150. Those wishing to stay anonymous can call the Silent Observer at 1-877-877-4536
