By Jeff Tang
(MADISON, Ind.) -- Each year the FBI receives more than 100,000 missing persons reports. Most of them go largely unnoticed. But that hasn't been the case with Molly Dattilo, the 23-year- old Indiana woman who disappeared in 2004. Molly's family has done everything to keep her story in the news, and now they've joined forces with a nationwide effort to bring awareness to missing persons. WAVE 3's Jeff Tang reports.
Everything changes, we're told. But it's almost as if Madison, Indiana hasn't.
"There are those who say we love the way things were," says resident Karen Modisett. "I love the way things used to be. In a lot of ways, they still are here."
Madison is a town that holds on to its past as much as it holds on to its people. Molly disappeared more than two years ago. She still hasn't been found, but for those who know Molly, silence is not a good enough answer.
"You know you can't ever give up," said Modisett, who became Molly's mentor during her senior year of high school. "The loudest voice is always heard."
So when Molly's loved ones found out about the "Squeaky Wheel" tour -- a series of concerts created to draw attention to missing persons -- it made sense for the family that never stayed quiet to have a concert for Molly.
And it made sense that the feature act also happened to be a friend -- local musician Rusty Bladen.
"One year I was playing music for the Regatta, and she a beauty queen contestant," Bladen remembers. "She also got to sing, she had a great voice."
"We just pray that someday she will come back," said Molly's sister, Celestra Hoffman. "And hopefully, this tour will make that possible."
Molly's event was one of more than 150 "Squeaky Wheel" concerts held across the world -- 150 families waiting for news of a missing loved one.
"We're not looking for every person to come home," Modisett said. "We know that that's probably an unrealistic goal. But each family is hoping for one."
There is new information in Molly's case: it was originally believed that Molly was last heard from while applying for a job at a restaurant in Indianapolis.
The Marion County Sheriff's Department is now confirming that Molly tried to make a phone call to a friend from a pay phone later that evening, but that call was disconnected before Molly was able to say anything, leaving her family to believe she may have been in danger.
There is still a $100,000 reward for anyone who comes forward with information that helps solve the case. If you have a tip to report, call 317-231-8702.
Online Reporter: Jeff Tang
Online Producer: Michael Dever
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