AUBURNDALE, Fla. — A missing Florida woman who was last seen more than two months ago is now considered "missing and endangered," according to the Auburndale Police Department.
The department said the last known contact with 38-year-old Tonya Lee Whipp was via phone/social media between May 28 to June 1 of this year. Whipp was last seen in the Auburndale area. Prior to moving back to Auburndale, where she was from, family members say she lived in the Venice area for roughly five years.
Whipp was reported missing on June 29. She is white, approximately 5'7", with light brown hair.
According to family members, 49-year-old Richard Oates of Winter Haven was the last known person with Whipp.
Tuesday afternoon, in a Facebook post, Polk County Sheriff's Office named Oates its "Warrant of the Day" and is seeking to arrest him for a probation violation.
The Facebook post by the sheriff's office did not mention Whipp's disappearence, however, Auburndale Chief Terry Storie confirmed to ABC Action News that Oates is also wanted for questioning in the Whipp case.
While Storie said Oates is not considered a "person of interest" in the case, he thinks the Winter Haven man "can provide some information" related to Whipp's whereabouts.
Hours after the news broke that Whipp is now considered a "missing and endangered" person, family members and friends gathered for a candlelight vigil at an Auburndale park.
Donna Martin, one of Whipp's sisters, said when Whipp went missing back in May, a number of things didn’t add up. She left behind her car and her beloved dog. She also stopped responding to her siblings' messages and calls.
“She wouldn’t do this to us. Bottom line. She wouldn’t. She wouldn’t put us through this. By now, we’re going through hell," Martin said. “No matter what, even if she was upset with one of us, she would still respond to us. She would still let us know what was going on in her life.”
Martin said she's still clinging to hope that her sister is alive, but as each day passes, more worry fills her heart.
A search party was held in Auburndale last month to help find her, but it did not uncover any new leads.
“Something’s wrong," Martin speculated Tuesday. "Something’s very wrong.”
If you have any information on Whipp's whereabouts, you're asked to contact Detective Chris Wall or Detective Kevin Seymour at 863-965-5555 or by email at CWall@Auburndalefl.com or kseymour@auburndalefl.com.
As of Tuesday, Crime Stoppers is offering $3,000, and a private anonymous donor is offering $1,000 for information on Whipp's whereabouts.
“If somebody knows something, please, stop holding it. Come and tell us," Martin said. “The not knowing is the hardest part.”
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