Missing Woman: Kellisue Ackernecht--NY--09/30/2008

[LoriDavis]

Print a Poster: http://www.projectjason.org/aan/AAN_KellisueAckernecht.pdf



http://capitalnews9.com/content/headlines/125677/police-looking-for-missing-woman-after-car-fire/Default.aspx

Police looking for missing woman after car fire
Updated: 10/08/2008 06:45 PM
By: Steve Ference



JOHNSTOWN, N.Y. -- “She walked out with another person that night. They both punched out together. They both got in the car together. Everything seemed to be fine, then all of a sudden all this happened,” said Dennis Ackernecht.

One week ago, Dennis Ackernecht says his nephew's wife, Kellysue Ackernecht, left her job at the Rite Aid in Amsterdam just like any other evening.

“She got out of work 9:30 that night. Well from 9:30 to 2:30 when the cops woke me up, I don't know where she was,” said Ackemecht.

Three hours after she left work, firefighters were called to West Montgomery Street in Johnstown to put out the fire that destroyed her car.

“Just a car totally burned up. Gone. No tires, nothing. Everything was gone. Even the steering wheel was gone,” Ackernecht said.

It's a mystery police have been working to figure out since Monday. A Johnstown woman who went missing after leaving work, a car fire and no trace of the woman since then. Our Steve Ference reports on the case as the family asks for your help in finding her.
 
And one week later, Kellysue Ackernecht, described as 5-feet, 10-inches tall, weighing 135 pounds, a former teacher’S aide at a Johnstown school, is nowhere to be found.

“We had a few people looking the next day. We were looking,” Ackernecht said. “We didn't find anything.”

“We did an initial search the night of the missing person report. We used the city K-9 at the time. Since then, we increased the search, increased the number of dogs. Yesterday we had the Capital District K-9 training group come to the area and we did a grid search,” said Johnstown Police Lieutenant Mark Gifford.

The area, known as Frog Hollow, is right by the Rail Trail, a jogging path not too far from the center of Johnstown.

We were unable to reach her husband, who's been quoted in the local paper saying he believes someone may be holding her against her will. Police don't think that's the case.

“We have not eliminated any possibility. We're leaving no stone unturned. Every lead that's reported to us or we come across, we exhaust,” Gifford said.

Some of the questions police are now grappling with are why her car ended up about a 30 second drive from her home and then why did it burst into flames?

“I know her daughter's missing her. Hey, if you're out there, come home, you know?” Ackernecht said.

While her family, including her ten-year-old daughter, wonders what happened, police ask anyone with information to call them.

[LoriDavis]

http://www.cbs6albany.com/news/police_1257706___article.html/last_woman.html

Search continues for missing woman
October 8, 2008 - 1:20PM
CBS 6 Staff

Police are still searching an area off West Montgomery Street in Johnstown where a missing woman's car was found burned last week near the rail trail.

Kellisue Ackernecht, 36, was last seen October 1st leaving her job at Rite Aid in Amsterdam at around 9:30 PM.

Police said the burned car was found in Johnstown down the street from where Ackernecht lives with husband and 9 year old daughter.

Police are not commenting on whether they suspect foul play.

Please contact Johnstown Police Department at (518) 736-4021 if you have any information regarding this case.

[LoriDavis]

http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S611868.shtml?cat=300
Search for missing Johnstown woman intensifies 
Posted at: 10/08/2008 11:34:33 PM
Updated at: 10/08/2008 11:41:34 PM
By: Beth Wurtmann
 
JOHNSTOWN -  Dennis Ackernecht said rumors have been flying about his nephew Jayson, who is married to Kellisue Akernecht. The 36-year-old Johnstown woman has been missing since October 1.

"Jayson is a good boy. And whatever happened to her, he's got nothing to do with it," said Ackernecht.

Kellisue was last seen September 30th leaving her job as a shift supervisor at an Amsterdam Rite Aid around 9:45 p.m. She was driving a 10-year-old Saturn sedan. A co-worker told us by phone that nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Four hours later, police found the car engulfed in flames a few blocks from her Johnstown home, with no sign of Kellisue.

The car was parked in an area neighbors call Frog Hollow, near the Rail Trail. Police said this street wasn't the usual way Kellisue drove home.

That has fueled speculation, even though police said they are not leaning toward arson in the car fire. They've used K-9 units to search the wooded area nearby, and are following leads.

"It could be a missing person. It could be foul play," said Johnstown Police Lt. Mark Gifford. "We are not ruling out anything at this point. The person could be voluntarily missing also."

But Dennis Ackernecht, who lives a few houses away from the scorched road, doubts that Kellisue would run away. He said she loves her daughter and her job. And said the family - and her husband - are very worried.

"He's holding up pretty good but I know deep down inside it's killing him. And we're all worried about her," he said.

We also spoke with Kellisue's sister, who said she did not know who would want to harm Kellisue.

On Thursday, a State Police helicopter was scheduled to continue the search.

[LoriDavis]

http://www.wten.com/Global/story.asp?S=9152304

Johnstown Police Search For Missing Woman
Posted: Oct 9, 2008 11:44 AM EDT
 
Authorities are still searching for a missing woman.  Kelllisue M. Ackernect of Johnstown was last seen last Tuesday.

According to published reports her husband says he thinks someone might be holding Kellisue against her will, and if so, that it might be someone she knows.

The 1998 Saturn sedan she was driving was found on fire, shortly after she was reported missing.  Anyone with information on where Kellisue might be, is asked to call Johnstown Police at 518-736-4021.

Today a State Police Helicopter will search the area where Ackernect's car was found in hopes of also finding her. News 10 is in Johnstown and will bring you the latest on our website, and on air... starting on News 10 at Five.

[LoriDavis]

http://capitalnews9.com/content/top_stories/125985/search-continues-for-missing-woman/Default.aspx

Search continues for missing woman
Updated: 10/13/2008 06:40 PM
By: Steve Ference

JOHNSTOWN, N.Y. -- “Her disappearance remains a mystery to police and her family,” said Louise Sira, Fulton County District Attorney.

Kellysue Ackernecht, who was last seen driving away from the Rite Aid in Amsterdam, hasn't been seen in two weeks.

“Main thing is where is she? Is she OK? Nobody seems to have that answer yet,” said Tom Kilcullen, Kellysue’S brother.

Kilcullen, simply wants to know what happened, concerned since he believes she would have called someone if she could.

“For her not to have any contact with her daughter, that's really strange. Maybe she didn't call us, but not to check on her daughter, that's out of this world. It just wouldn't happen,” Kilcullen said.

It's been two weeks since anyone has seen a Johnstown woman whose car was found on fire near her home. Our Steve Ference reports on the latest as some family members continue to reach out asking for help from anyone who may know anything.

“We don't have any evidence of criminality. We don't know if perhaps she's accidentally missing, if she's hurt, she's injured. If she's fallen into foul play. We have no idea,” Sira said.

Sira says Ackernecht left from her Amsterdam job that night around 9:30 p.m. Four-and-a-half hours later, her car was found a short distance from her Johnstown home, destroyed by fire.

“The Johnstown Fire Department hasn't ruled that the fire was set intentionally, they haven't ruled out any mechanical defect or problem,” Sira said.

We stopped by her home, basically a couple blocks from where the car fire happened. A woman answered the door, told us to talk with the police, then slammed the door on us. Authorities tell us no one is a suspect at this time and that her husband is "definitely not a suspect at this time."

“He's been cooperating with the police department, as has been her entire family,” Sira said.

All of this is leaving too many questions for Ackernecht's family and friends, like whether it really was foul play or if Ackernecht wanted to disappear.

“In the time frame we're looking at right now, I don't want to say it, but I do fear the worst, unfortunately,” Kilcullen said.

As the police continue their search and both investigators and family ask for anyone with information to call them.

“If anyone's seen or heard from her, I don't care who you are, good, bad or indifferent, we'd like to know where she is and if she's okay,” said Kilcullen.

Sira says you can call an anonymous tip line if you have any information that may help the family find some answers. That number is (518) 736-5561.

[LoriDavis]

http://capitalnews9.com/content/headlines/126311/vigil-held-for-missing-johnstown-woman/Default.aspx

Vigil held for missing Johnstown woman
Sunday, October 19, 2008  
Updated: 10/19/2008 12:25 PM
By: Web Staff

MOHAWK VALLEY, N.Y. -- It was an emotional night as family and friends of a missing Johnstown woman held a vigil in her honor.

Kellysue Ackernecht's was last seen leaving her job in Amsterdam on September 30th. Three hours later, police say they found her car, destroyed by fire, just three blocks away from her home.

Family and friends gathered near a rite aid where she was last seen. Many of them also drove down to the rail trail on West Montgomery Street; the exact spot where the charred remains of her car were found.

"We want people to realize that Kelly was very well loved by her family by co-workers by friends you know. There's just a lot of people out there that care about her, worry about her, that love her and miss her," said Chris Clouston, Brother.
 
Police haven't named any suspects in the disappearance. If you have any information you're asked to call Johnstown Police who are continuing to investigate.

[Kelly]

Project Jason Profile:



Name:  Kellisue Ackernecht

Date of Birth:  12/16/1972
Date Missing:  09/30/2008
Age at time of disappearance:  35
City Missing From:  Johnstown
State Missing From:  New York
Gender:  Female
Race:  White
Height:  5'10"
Weight:  135lbs
Hair Color:  Auburn
Eye Color:  Brown

Identifying Characteristics:  Wears glasses and a wedding band on her left hand, was last seen wearing tan pants, new white sneakers, and a Rite-Aid apron. She has a patch on her right cheek.

Circumstances of Disappearance:  Kellisue was last seen September 30th leaving her job as a shift supervisor at an Amsterdam Rite Aid around 9:45 p.m. She was driving a 10-year-old Saturn sedan. Three hours later, police found the car engulfed in flames a few blocks from her Johnstown home, with no sign of Kellisue. The car was parked in an area neighbors call Frog Hollow, near the Rail Trail. Police said this street wasn't the usual way Kellisue drove home. The car was completely destroyed by the fire. 

Medical Conditions:  According to her husband, she takes medication for depression, but stopped taking it before she disappeared. 

Investigative Agency:  Johnstown Police Department
Agency Phone:  (518) 736-4021

Print a Poster: http://www.projectjason.org/aan/AAN_KellisueAckernecht.pdf

[LoriDavis]

http://capitalnews9.com/content/top_stories/127132/family-of-missing-johnstown-woman-looking-for-answers/Default.aspx

Family of missing Johnstown woman looking for answers
10/31/2008 04:12 PM
By: Steve Ference

It's been more than a month since a Johnstown woman disappeared - her car found destroyed by fire near her home. Steve Ference reports the latest on the investigation, as family members hold onto hope that she'll be found safe.

JOHNSTOWN, N.Y. -- "A month later, we have nothing to go with," said Tom Kilcullen who told us it was hard enough learning that his sister, Kellysue Ackernecht, disappeared Sept. 30. "It's very strange she'd leave without saying goodbye. Even if she left for a week she would have made a phone call or something. It's just suspicious. There's something really strange."

But he said not knowing much more now than he knew a month ago has made the situation that much more difficult to take.

"We still don't have an answer as to what's going on with the car. It's a little suspicious. Again, no answers," he said.

Ackernecht was last seen leaving her Rite Aid job in Amsterdam just after 9:30 p.m. that night. About four hours later, investigators found her car in Johnstown destroyed by fire only a flew blocks away from where she lived with her husband and 10-year-old daughter. She was nowhere to be found.

Johnstown Police Lieutenant Mark Gifford, said, "The circumstances that surround it could lead a person to believe it's suspicious, but again we go on facts and evidence. At this point in time we haven't come to a conclusion on that."

Though we've repeatedly tried to talk with her husband, Lt. Gifford tells us the family is cooperating. The District Attorney has said her husband is "definitely not a suspect."

So far, police aren't sure if it's a criminal matter. They have no suspects if it is.

"We haven't exhausted the leads we've been given and on occasion we come across new leads," said Lt. Gifford.

Meanwhile, family members are working on ways to raise money in the coming days to offer a reward for information that can help them figure out what happened one month ago.

"If she is out there somewhere where she can hear this or she knows we're looking for her, just make a phone call," Kilcullen urged. "No strings attached. We just like to know, are you OK?"

If you have any information you can call an anonymous tip line to help the family find answers. That number is (518) 736-5561.

[LoriDavis]

http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2008/nov/10/1110_missing/

Group searches for missing Johnstown woman
Monday, November 10, 2008

JOHNSTOWN ? About 15 family and friends of missing city resident Kellisue M. Ackernecht conducted a search for her on Sunday.

Ackernecht, 43, has not been seen since Sept. 30, when she left work at the Rite Aid on Route 30 in Amsterdam shortly before 10 p.m. Her 1998 Saturn was found burning where West Montgomery Street ends at the Rail Trail along the Cayadutta Creek.

The search began at the McDonald?s in Johnstown.

Police were not involved in the search, but Johnstown Police Officer Adam Schwabrow said he believes it did not turn up anything. He said authorities have nothing new to report in the case.

[LoriDavis]

http://capitalnews9.com/content/headlines/127693/search-continues-for-kellisue/Default.aspx

Search continues for Kellisue
Monday, November 10, 2008 
Updated: 11/10/2008 08:09 AM
By: Curtis Schick

 NORTHVILLE, N.Y. -- Imagine if one of your family members just vanished. That's what the family of Kellisue Ackernecht is dealing with. The Johnstown woman has been missing since the end of September after leaving work at Rite Aid. Her car found here a few miles away on fire three hours later.

"We are not eating, we are not sleeping well we want her home," said Karen Clouston, Ackernecht's sister-in-law.

Then think about what you would do as the days went by. As investigators search for answers, her family started a search of their own, with pictures in hand along shores of the Great Sacandaga Lake.

No one has seen a Johnstown woman in more than a month, and as Curtis Schick reports, for family members of Kellisue Ackernecht, their search for answers has so far come up empty.
 
"We are hopeful we find something, some information that we can pass on to the police. At least try to get some sort of closure," said Chris Clouston, Ackernecht's brother.

The edge of Sacandaga was just one spot people were looking on Sunday. More than 40 volunteers headed out to various locations within a 20 mile radius of Johnstown.

"It's based upon a timeline from Johnstown area where her car was found. We are looking in any direction that might give us a clue," said Chris Clouston.

Volunteers looked through brush, peaking into buildings and walking the lake's sandy shores. For investigators, answers have been hard to come by. Right now, in Ackernecht's case, there are no suspects and few clues.

"I miss her. She is very much loved. She is a very great person," said Karen Clouston.

"We would like to find a happy ending. We would like to have her come home," said Chris Clouston.

[Jenn]

http://www.cbs6albany.com/news/police_1259137___article.html/manchester_sister.html

Missing woman's sister unhappy with Johnstown Police

December 2, 2008 - 11:56 AM

The sister of a missing Johnstown woman is losing patience with the town police department.

Kellisue Ackernecht, 35, disappeared on September 30, a few days before her daughter's ninth birthday. Her sister, Beth Manchester, said Tuesday that she believes the investigation is stalled.

"Absolutely," Manchester said when asked whether she is frustrated with the Johnstown Police Department. "But I'm not going to say anything bad about anybody."

The lieutenant in charge of the probe did not immediately return a CBS 6 phone call on Tuesday.

Police found Ackernecht's care on fire less than a mile from her house on the night she vanished. There was no one inside the vehicle, police said. Subsequent searches of the area revealed no sign of the missing mother of one.

"It was very hard for Thanksgiving," Manchester said. "I was with my son. We said a prayer for her."

Though Manchester said she believes her sister is still alive, she does not understand why Ackernecht hasn't called her loved ones -- especially her daughter.

"We really wish she would come home," Manchester said.

[Kelly]

http://leaderherald.com/page/content.detail/id/508334.html?nav=5011

Group marks woman’s birthday
Kellisue Ackernecht last seen Sept. 30

By MICHAEL ANICH/The Leader-Herald
POSTED: December 17, 2008

JOHNSTOWN - At 7:09 p.m. Tuesday - on a dark crisp night in Frog Hollow -17 people sang a spirited version of "Happy Birthday" to Kellisue Ackernecht.

But the Johnstown woman wasn't there to enjoy the celebration of her 37th year of life, and that was the point.

The group of Ackernecht's family members, friends and acquaintances, and even strangers, met for a candlelight vigil in an effort to keep her name in the spotlight. Led by four of her siblings - brothers Thomas Kilcullen, Chris Clouston, John Kilcullen and sister Beth Manchester - the group stayed for several minutes at the spot just a few yards from where the missing woman's car was found burned in the early morning of Oct. 1.

"We just want her to come home safe," Manchester said.

The vigil was the second one held in Johnstown, as family members continue to scratch their heads about the whereabouts of Kellisue. Family members also have conducted their own searches for the woman.

"We just wanted everybody to get together to show everyone that we're missing her," Thomas Kilcullen said.

Clouston arrived at the vigil a few minutes after 7 p.m., having driven 196 miles from his home in Connecticut. Her planned to get right back in his car and drive back at the conclusion of the vigil.

"I'm glad you guys came around on short notice," Clouston told the group.

John Kilcullen's fiancee - Margo Kusaw of Johnstown lit candles along the posts on the bending curve where Ackernecht's car was found.

Absent Tuesday night was Ackernecht's husband, Jayson, who shares a home three blocks away with her and their daughter at 330 W. Main St.

The Johnstown Police Department has continued to treat the baffling case of the two and one-half month disappearance as a missing-person case. Police and District Attorney Louise K. Sira say they need evidence before they can even begin to build a criminal case in her disappearance.

What has been made public is the case is that Ackernecht left her job at Rite Aid in Amsterdam just after 9:30 p.m. Sept. 30, Johnstown police said. She was reported missing by her husband in the early morning hours of Oct. 1 - about the same time the car she was driving registered to him was found engulfed in fire at West Montgomery and Chestnut streets, also known as Frog Hollow.

City fire officials have said the vehicle is too burned to gain any evidence, but haven't closed their investigation.

Police have conducted searches, including one with the assistance of a state police helicopter, over the Frog Hollow area, but they found nothing tied to this case. The city Police Department has done several foot searches with dogs and used forest rangers. Johnstown police and the St. Johnsville Dive Team also have combed the banks of the Cayadutta Creek leading to Sammonsville.

Just before 7 p.m. Tuesday, vehicles started pulling up to the bend that parallels the Rail Trail. Participants in the vigil braved a 25-degree night to let everyone know they haven't forgotten Kellisue.

"I'm here to lend support because there needs to be more support," said Kalley Lee of Fort Plain - a complete stranger to Kellisue.

She said she doesn't know Ackernecht, but decided to get involved, as she has in other missing persons cases.

Lee has put together a Web site for everyone to remember Kellisue Ackernecht in their thoughts and prayers - www.findkellisue.wordpress.com. She said the Web site is free to her and she has the time during the day, staying at home to take care of a sick daughter.

Many of the people attending the vigil said they didn't want to criticize anyone involved in the case.

Thomas Kilcullen said he didn't think his sister was "capable" of torching the family car, no matter if she had any personal problems or not.

He also said it was unusual his sister would come up missing two weeks before own daughter's birthday.

When asked to give a message to Kellisue, many in the group simply said for her to call any family member. The group said it was sad the media - including TV stations invited - weren't keeping up with the story.

Kellisue M. Ackernecht is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 135 pounds. Her family says she has "short brown, naturally curly hair with red highlights."

People may call Johnstown police at 736-4021 with confidential information on the case.

[Jenn]

http://www.leaderherald.com/page/content.detail/id/506470.html?nav=5011

Missing woman's brother issues plea

POSTED: October 11, 2008

JOHNSTOWN - The brother of the city woman now missing for 11 days on Friday made a media appeal to his sister to come home, no strings attached.

Thomas Kilcullen of Canajoharie - the brother of missing resident Kellisue M. Ackernecht - told The Leader-Herald he wanted to get an urgent message to his sister if she's reading the newspaper.

"All I can say is if Kellisue is reading this, our family is missing her," Kilcullen said. "We're missing her and we want her to come home. I'll come to wherever you are. I will be there."

The 43-year-old Kilcullen - a technician for Lift Tech Equipment in Syracuse - said he hasn't talked to his sister in a couple of months. But he said he and their half-brother - Connecticut resident Chris Clouston - are still very close to Kellisue.

"Normally, we talk quite often with her," Kilcullen said. "This is highly unusual for her to disappear."

Ackernecht, 36, of 330 W. Main St., is the subject of an ongoing search by Johnstown police. Police said she left her job at Rite Aid in Amsterdam the night of Sept. 30. She was reported missing by her husband, Jayson Ackernecht, in the early morning hours of Oct. 1 - about the same time the car she was driving was found on fire at West Montgomery and Chestnut streets.

The area, known as Frog Hollow, is about three blocks south of the Ackernecht home.

Johnstown police Lt. Mark Gifford said Friday that Ackernecht remains missing.

"Leads are still being followed," he said.

Gifford was asked if Johnstown police are working with police from Amsterdam, where Ackernecht was last seen.

"Police often work with other agencies," he responded, not directly answering.

When asked if his department will accept an offer to have a state search team come in, Gifford stated, "It's being considered. Right now there's things more pressing ... in this case."

Kilcullen said their parents are deceased, but Kellisue still has much extended family in the area and in Connecticut that want her to return home safely.

The missing woman and her husband have an elementary school-age daughter.

"Everybody on his [Jayson's] side of the family is trashing her," Kilcullen said. "My main concern is how it has affected her daughter."

His brother-in-law, Jayson, granted an interview with The Leader-Herald earlier in the week after media reports surfaced about Kellisue's disappearance. Jayson's sister's, Kim Ackernecht, has since indicated she and her family will not be answering future questions from the newspaper.

In that interview, Jayson Ackernecht indicated he was on disability and was concerned with less income coming in with his wife missing. Kilcullen said he noticed Jayson is "worried" about that situation, but stopped short of commenting further.

He said his sister and Jayson were having some problems.

"I know they had marital problems," Kilcullen said. "I don't know the whole details."

Kilcullen said he has been interviewed by police and gave them what he knows. He also said he was disappointed that Jayson Ackernecht didn't call him until 8 a.m. Oct. 1 to tell him about his sister's disappearance - about six or seven hours after the car fire.

Kilcullen said the only real family connection he's noticed when he's visited his sister in the past has been the bond between the mother and daughter.

"Whenever I've been there [in Johnstown], it's always Kelli and her daughter," he said. "She keeps very good care of her daughter."

He said his sister probably wouldn't leave her husband without thinking of her daughter.

"If she has taken off to try to better her life, I can't believe she would leave her daughter behind for that long," Kilcullen said.

Kilcullen said he has done some independent investigation into his sister's disappearance since Oct. 1. He said he searched the campsite of a family member and has given police some tips.

"I've done some searching around myself," Kilcullen said.

Kilcullen said he thought it was "kind of odd" that his brother-in-law, Jayson, was wearing his Sir William Johnson Volunteer Fire Department clothes while distributing missing posters Thursday.

Excluding The Leader-Herald, he said, he's disappointed the local media haven't given more coverage of the case. If the case were happening in Albany or Schenectady, Kilcullen said, there would probably be more Capital Region news coverage.

So far, the search for Kellisue Ackernecht has involved intense police investigation, K-9 dogs, a state police helicopter and missing posters being put up in the area. Police have declined to answer specific questions about the case, other than to give out the missing woman's description.

Kellisue M. Ackernecht is five feet 10 inches tall and weighs 135 pounds. Her family says she has "short brown, natural curly hair with red highlights."

The family also says Kellisue was last seen wearing tan slacks, a black shirt, new white sneakers, tan stockings and brown glasses.

People may call Johnstown police at 736-4021 with confidential information on the case.

[Jenn]

Myspace page for Kellisue:  http://www.myspace.com/searchingforkellisue

[Jenn]

http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2009/mar/24/0324_missingsearch/

Group plans search for woman
Benefit to fund probe for missing 36-year-old

Tuesday, March 24, 2009
By Jim McGuire (Contact)
Gazette Reporter

JOHNSTOWN -  Texas EquuSearch, the organization involved in some of the most publicized missing persons cases in recent memory, will be in Johnstown in early April to look for 36-year-old Kellisue Ackernecht.

Ackernecht has been missing since Oct. 1, when her 1998 Saturn was found burning around 2 a.m. in the parking area at Frog Hollow at the end of West Montgomery Street. No one reported seeing her after she left work around 10 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Rite Aid on Route 30 in Amsterdam.

As friends and family members await the search, they are also planning a spaghetti dinner benefit for EquuSearch, set for 5 to 8 p.m. May 4 at Lombardo’s Pizzeria in St. Johnsville. Meals, including takeouts, are $11. A 50/50 raffle will also be conducted.

Kellisue Ackernecht’s husband, Jayson Ackernecht, is among those organizing the benefit. Fort Plain residents Kalley Lee and Deb Walsh and Kellisue Ackernecht’s brother, Thomas Kilcullen, are also working on the dinner.

Jayson Ackernecht said he is now taking a leadership role in the search effort, after backing off last fall, when some of his wife’s relatives suggested he was responsible for the disappearance.

“Not a damn thing,” he told The Gazette on Monday, when asked if he had anything to do with his wife becoming a missing person.

“We have no clue about what happened it’s a mystery,” he said. “I was home sound asleep with my daughter I waited until midnight and then I went to bed,” he said. Usually, he said, “she was home by 10:30.”

Ackernecht, who stopped talking to reporters in the days following his wife’s disappearance, said he remains alienated from his wife’s family. “I don’t have contact with any of them,” he said.

Kilcullen said he welcomes EquuSearch, an organization with a wealth of experience. “They may know where to look,” Kilcullen said.

He said he anticipates the search area will be a six-mile radius around the site where the car was parked. If his sister is in the area, he said, it is probable her body would be found in the vicinity of the car.

If she is alive, as even some investigators contend, “it seems awful odd there have been no phone calls,” Kilcullen said. He said he is certain if his sister relocated she would have called him or another family member.

“We’d kind of like some closure - is she around or isn’t she?”  Kilcullen said.

Lee said she volunteered for this effort out of gratitude to the donors and volunteers who aided her family when her 4-year-old daughter, Alexandra Handy, was diagnosed with leukemia. The child is now in remission and doing well, her mother said.

“I reached out to Jayson,” Lee said, calling the situation “very sad.” After talking to Ackernecht, she said she does not consider him a suspect. “I don’t think Jayson did anything; he really misses her. When he talks about her he gets very emotional,” Lee said.

Lee said EquuSearch did not request the fundraiser. “They’re not expecting anything,” she said.

Johnstown Police Chief Greg Horning said his detectives have followed every lead in the case, but have hit some dead ends.

He said he expects to coordinate search activities with officials of EquuSearch and said anticipates a team effort that may “find something.”

Johnstown police, with assistance of other departments and state forest rangers, conducted a number of searches in the area where the car burned, along the Cayadutta Creek valley and surrounding, mostly overgrown former farmland.

While detectives have yet to develop information that may solve the case, Horning said the investigation has eliminated many possibilities.

“Until we have definitive answers, we’re still treating it as though she is alive,” Horning said.

With so much time elapsed without an indication his wife is alive, Ackernecht said he is losing hope.

“I hate to say it, but my feeling is, yeah, but where,” Ackernecht said, conceding the search may now be to recover a body.

EquuSearch was founded in 2000 near Galveston.

The organization’s Web site said it has about 1,000 members and conducts searches on land and in water using a variety of resources including dog teams, horse and rider teams, planes, a drone and helicopters.

EquuSearch is also equipped with the latest technology.

EquuSearch officials did not return a call for comment by late afternoon.