Missing New Orleans teacher’s sister: ‘She just vanished’

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“The fact that we can’t find the car or her, it’s even more bizarre,” she said. “It’s just like she vanished.”

Enclade said the area where the club is located is well lit and modern — not at all rural — and that there are no wooded areas or embankments for a car to tumble over. She said there were no 911 calls reporting an accident on the night Terrilynn disappeared, and that both police and private search firm Texas Equusearch have searched the canals in the area where the club is located, and found nothing. Most recently, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced they would join in the search. Starting Wednesday, they planned to use sonar equipment to probe Lake Ponchartrain for signs of the missing woman or her vehicle.

The family is clinging to hope that she is alive.

“We just have to cling to our faith,” Dirks said, “and to believe in miracles.”

“I really feel that in my heart and I believe that someone kidnapped her and is holding her,” Enclade said. But she admits that she has also prepared herself for the worst. “I honestly just want some type of closure. Of course we’re praying for the best. I feel like I have [prepared,] but my parents… I don’t think so.”

Mostly, Enclade says the family plans to keep making the trek to New Orleans. “Me and my mom and my dad plan to go down, if we have to go down there every month,” she said. “We’re planning a benefit concert at the House of Blues in May. And of course while we’re down there we’ll be doing another vigil.”

The search is not over

They’ve also set up a Facebook page dedicated to Terrilyn, where they post flyers, and pitch T-shirts with Terrilyn’s picture, and receive the prayers of strangers and friends. They’ve even created a #FindTerrilynn hashtag on Twitter.

Enclade calls her sister “sweet,” and “very kind.” And she says the family will not give up hope of finding her.

“She actually was supposed to be the godmother of my child, and my daughter is seven weeks old,” she said. “She hasn’t gotten a chance to meet her yet.”

Follow Joy Reid on @TheReidReport.