Williams remains missing

Published 7:03 pm Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Just over one year after 53-year-old Kathleen Williams, of Lunenburg, went missing, police said they still have no leads as to her whereabouts.

Williams disappeared on Jan. 2, 2016. She disappeared sometime between 3-5 p.m. while her husband had gone to the grocery store, according to police. Search parties worked for a week before being called off due to a lack of clues and manpower.

Victoria Police Chief Keith Phillips said there is no evidence foul play was involved in Williams’ disappearance. Phillips said the case is still open, but no new information has been received about her status or location.

“We are still actively hoping and wishing we will receive more information,” Phillips said. “We’re all wishing for some help from the public to help us find out where she is, or to at least let us know that she’s safe.”

Efforts to reach Williams’ family for comment were unsuccessful.

Last year, the search for her quickly grew from friends and family to — in the last days — one that involved 100 people. Dog teams, trackers, ground teams and equine teams were involved. Areas around several bodies of water were searched.

Victoria Police efforts were supplemented by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, Virginia State Police, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Lunenburg Sheriff’s Office, the Kenbridge Police Department, Nottoway Sheriff’s Office and numerous search and rescue organizations from around the state and local emergency services personnel.

The last few days of the active search was coordinated by Virginia Department of Emergency Management Search and Rescue leaders with operations based out of Victoria Fire and Rescue.

“Methodical searches were planned based on known information to attempt to locate Mrs. Williams,” Rodney Newton, chief of the Victoria Fire and Rescue Department and then-interim town manager in training explained at the time. “As the search continued the search area expanded from the area immediately around the residence to an approximately two-mile radius around the residence.”

If anyone has any information as to Williams’ whereabouts, they are urged contact the Victoria Police Department at (434) 696-4452 or the Kenbridge Police Department at (434) 676-2453.