NVERNESS, Fla. (WFLA) — Citrus County grandmotherCarol McHugh vanished five years ago. yearsToday, June 2017
Carol’s daughter Colleen remains heartbroken. However, she is hopeful that someone may have information about her mother’s disappearance.
“It is torturous,”McHugh claimed. “That’s the best way I can describe it.”
Carol McHugh was loved and respected by everyone she met. Carol McHugh was loved by everyone she met. grandmotherWith a heart of gold, she spent her entire life as a nurse with the mission to help others. Carol, however, was the one who had to be helped when she vanished in the summer 2017.
That’s when the search for this Inverness woman began, and it continues to this day.
“She’s a mom, a grandmother, a loved members of the community,” Sheriff Mike Prendergast said.
The sheriff stated missingPersons cases are of top priority.
In fact, his agency has teamed up with a non-profit called Find-M’Friends, Inc. to provide free “Out of Harms way Kits” where a person’s scent is sealed, just in case.
Sheriff Prendergast claimed that the kit has saved lives within his county.
(*5*) Prendergast said. “We’re the fourth oldest county per-capita in the United States of America.”
Sheriff Prendergast wanted to remind everyone the kits are free and can be picked up at any sheriff’s office location.
During the initial search for Carol, the sheriff’s office spent more than 3,000 hours searching more than 23 square miles, which equated to 14,720 acres. Unfortunately, there were no clues that could have led to Carol’s disappearance.
Colleen stated that she gets up every morning. missingShe longed for answers, and hoped that someone would help her.
“Every time I look in the mirror, I see her, I look so much like her. In the beginning, when she went missing, I thought to myself, ‘I’m seeing my mom,’”8 On Your Side spoke with Colleen McHugh during an exclusive interview. “I see my mom, it’s like saying hello.”
Carol’s daughter said her mother was suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. The 72-year-old wandered away from her home that day and was never heard from again.
Citrus County Sheriff’s Office’s K9s picked up a scent during a search in the initial investigation, but what they detected stopped abruptly near Carol’s home.
“I personally feel somebody else is involved,”Colleen said. “How can she be missing for so long? There’s just too many questions, and I just don’t believe it’s just she walked off somewhere.”
Citrus County Sheriff Prendergast said there is no evidence of foul play in connection with McHugh’s disappearance and as Colleen continues to search, she said she won’t give up anytime soon giving high praise to sheriff’s detectives and to members of the community.
“Citrus County is family,”She said.
Carol McHugh continues to be elusive despite the constant efforts of Citrus detectives. missing, and even though it’s been nearly four yearsIt’s never easy for Carol-lovers.
“I would at least like to try and find her remains, and then find out exactly. The bottom line is to have her interred with my dad,” Collen said.
Residents in the area will soon be able to see flyers and banners reminding them about Carol McHugh’s disappearance.
Carol McHugh 5He is 113 lbs and stands at a height of 1-1/4 inches. The blonde hair was short. She was wearing a brown shirt with brown stripes and a large collar.
If you have any information please call the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office at 352-726-4488.