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Florida Woman Hasn’t Been Seen Since Her Purse Was Found In A Park A Month Ago
Lauren Dumolo, who was last seen June 19 in Cape Coral, would have celebrated her 30th birthday on Tuesday.
A Florida mother has been missing for nearly a month, though a lead investigator in the case is holding out hope she'll be found alive.
Lauren Dumolo was last seen June 19 at an apartment in Cape Coral and was reported missing two days later, according to the Fort Myers News-Press. Her purse was found June 19 by a citizen at Four Freedoms Park — the same day she was last seen alive.
Dumolo's family said earlier this month that they've been searching the park twice a day for clues in the case, according to local outlet NBC 2.
Dumolo's cell phone was found in her apartment, according to the Cape Coral Police Department. Police noted she was a frequent visitor of the park where her purse was discovered.
Det. Nick Jones, who has been working to find Dumolo, told local media he remains optimistic about finding the woman nearly a month into the investigation.
“It’s tough. I’m a father myself. I have three kids and one of them is a daughter; I have a girl," he told local outlet WINK News — adding that he has never failed to solve a missing person case.
Police are looking at all leads in the case — including Dumolo's boyfriend Gabriel Pena, who has been interviewed by police but hasn't been named as a suspect in the case.
“I’m worried. I’m worried and scared. Not scared because I didn’t do anything, but I’m just worried something really did happen," Pena told WINK News last week.
Jones told the outlet that he couldn't say if Pena is officially a suspect.
Tuesday was Dumolo's 30th birthday and her friends and family celebrated it on social media with the hashtag #BringLaurenHome, according to Fox 4.
“The wondering part is probably the worst, you know. Even if the answer is bad, at least you have closure,” Lauren's father, Paul Dumolo, told WINK.
Anyone with any information on Dumolo's current whereabouts or anyone who may have seen her at any point on or after June 19 is asked to contact Cape Coral police at (239) 574-3223.
