Police seeking information on missing Mount Olive woman
By Steve Herring
Published in News on March 22, 2012 1:46 PM
Full Size
News-Argus/BOBBY WILLIAMS
Tina Harville talks about her missing sister, Patricia Ann "Trish" Lalonde, at the Mount Olive police station. Ms. Lalonde has been missing since Feb. 22.
MOUNT OLIVE -- Tina Harville admits her younger sister, Patricia Ann "Trish" Lalonde, might not be living the life she should but the older sister says she still deserves her love and that she won't rest until she is found.
Ms. Lalonde, 43, who has struggled with alcohol and drug abuse, has been missing since Feb. 22.
Her family and the town of Mount Olive are offering a $2,000 reward to anyone with information regarding her disappearance or whereabouts.
On Wednesday, Mrs. Harville, who lives in Tennessee, described her sister and the pain that comes with not knowing what has happened to her since she was last seen leaving the home of a friend on Milford Drive. Mount Olive police are hoping the reward will spark a lead.
"I know people think she is a piece of trash, but she is my sister," said Mrs. Harville, choking up as she spoke. "Even if she is gone, I want her body. I want to take her home with me.
"I know something bad has happened. This is not like her. That is why I am having such a hard day today. I am leaving and I have got no results. I have heard so many bad rumors. At home it was hard enough because I wasn't here. Knowing that I am leaving and no answers ...."
Mrs. Harville, who lives in Savannah, Tenn., has been staying with members of the church her sister has been attending. She has been in town since Sunday and was leaving Wednesday afternoon to return home.
"If anybody knows anything at all," she said. "I don't even care if they leave their name, just let us know because she is loved by her church family, by her family. I just want to let them know that she is a person and that we love her and that we want her to come home no matter what."
"We need the citizens of Mount Olive to step forward with information," Mount Olive police Capt. Tommy Brown said. "She may have led the lifestyle that she did, but she is still a daughter; she is still a sister; she is still an aunt, and the family deserves to know what happened to her."
Police said that Ms. Lalonde may frequent areas associated with prostitution and illicit drugs and has friends in the Mount Olive, Dudley, Calypso and Warsaw areas. Her mother resides in Borger, Texas.
Investigators said they have received calls but that none so far have resulted in any leads.
Ms. Lalonde is white, slender and last seen wearing a white tank top style shirt, a mini-skirt and slip-on shoes. Ms. Lalonde has dark blonde, shoulder-length hair and may have colored extensions in it. She has cutting scars on both of her arms and has been known to carry a knife. She is about 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs around 95 pounds. She has brown eyes and is missing two front teeth.
She was riding a yellow Eton Beamer 49cc scooter with black side mirrors and pink design stickers covering the front and sides.
Ms. Lalonde has lived in Mount Olive about seven or eight years.
Her sister said she has suffered physical ailments, including a bout with cancer, and that the last time she spoke with her on the phone she seemed disappointed that their mother had backed out of a visit to see her.
Mrs. Harville said her sister might be out of touch for a day or two, but had no history of going missing for extended periods of time. She added that one detail that particularly worries her is that her sister cares deeply for her dogs and that they were left unattended.
"She would never leave her dogs. That is how I know something bad has happened. Her dogs were like her children," Mrs. Harville said. "Someone has took her and hurt her because she would not leave her animals. That would be like leaving a child to her."
Anyone with information about Ms. Lalonde's location is asked to contact Brown at the Mount Olive Police Department at 658-5031, ext. 102 or at tbrown@townofmountolivenc.com. Callers also can call the county dispatch office at 731-1493 or Goldsboro-Wayne County Crime Stoppers at 735-2255.