Published: June 02, 2009 12:42 am      

Indiana woman may have been in the area

DANVILLE — The Greene County, Ind. sheriff’s department has received numerous calls of sightings of missing Linton, Ind. woman Esther Risher, 93.

Monday, the Greene County Daily World published a story indicating the woman may have been seen May 26 near Kickapoo State Park.

The story detailed an account by Fairmount resident Margie Gaffney, who saw a woman matching Risher’s description flagging her down on an unlisted roadway in the Kickapoo area.

Gaffney told the Daily World the woman who looked like Risher was standing near a mailbox and waving her hands to get her attention.

The woman appeared scared and confused and Gaffney offered assistance.

The elderly female, who was wearing a bright pink top and white slacks, said she had just left a funeral in Oakwood and was trying to get to Tilton.

Gaffney tried to give her directions to Tilton via Interstate 74. The woman followed Gaffney to U.S., Route 150. Gaffney then decided she didn’t want to leave the elderly woman alone, so she pulled over and told the woman to follow her to Tilton.

The two took I-74 to the Tilton G Street exit. There, the woman appeared to be more oriented. She said she knew where she was going, and crossed the stoplight.

The incident happened before Gaffney knew about Risher’s missing person status.

Later that same day, Gaffney checked the Commercial-News Web site where she found that there had been a funeral service in Oakwood. She also discovered the story about Risher’s disappearance.

Gaffney reported her story late last week.

The Greene County sheriff’s department had not heard any more leads relating to Risher’s disappearance by late Monday evening.

Green County Deputy Sheriff Jeremy Inman said Gaffney’s report matched Risher’s description very closely, and the de-partment is investigating all information pertaining to the case.

Inman said Risher was last seen in a dark blue 1993 Buick four-door that looks almost black. The car also has an Indiana University alumni in the rear of the car, possibly covering a brake light. The license plate number is 28C 5471 and the tags expired in 2008.

She was last seen May 26 on Main Street in Linton. Risher is beleived to be suffering dementia and maybe in a state of confusion.

“We’re hoping we can find her,” Inman said.

The department has received reports of sightings all over the area, including Terre Haute, Ind. and the Linton, Ind. area. Another call claimed to place Risher in Knox County, Ind.

Area law enforcement agencies have Risher’s description. The Green County Sheriff’s office asks anyone with information to call immediately.

“Our patrol guys know the description,” said Captain Dennis Wood of the Vermilion County Sheriff’s department.

“Our advice to everyone on anything like this is call 911 if something seems out of place.”



MISSING PERSON

Anyone with any information about missing Linton, Ind. woman Esther Risher should call the Greene County, Ind. Sheriff’s department at (812) 384-4411.

Risher was last seen in a dark blue 1993 Buick four-door that looks almost black. The car also has an Indiana University alumni sticker in the rear of the car, possibly covering a brake light. The license plate number is 28C 5471 and the tags expired in 2008.

Risher is about 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs about 124 pounds. She was last seen May 26 on Main Street in Linton. Risher is beleived to be suffering dementia and maybe in a state of confusion.