Family pleads for help in finding daughter

The mother of Tamika Huston, a missing 24-year-old woman, begged for help Tuesday in finding her.

"I have traveled here to ask for any information in Tamika's disappearance. I know deep down in my heart, somebody knows something. Please, please, just let us know where she is," Gabriella Simenehe said.

Simenehe, who lives in Springfield, Va., asked anyone who knows anything to speak out.

"We want her to know we love her. We miss her deeply. And we thank the police and the media for all they have done for us," Simenehe said.

Simenehe joined more than 40 family members who gathered at the Marriott at Renaissance Park in a public appeal for information. Tamika was reported missing by her family on June 14.

Spartanburg police Capt. Randy Hardy said her family said she was last seen the first week of June.

In giving an update on the investigation, Hardy described her disappearance as suspicious after her car was found abandoned on June 20.

"There is nothing new. No concrete evidence as to what happened," Hardy told the family and media.

That is frustrating the family, said

Tamika's grandfather, Daniel Huston. They don't know what happened and can't find answers, he said, and that is breaking their hearts.

He remembers the jar of cookies his granddaughter brought him in March.

"It was nothing out of the ordinary. Just something she would do," he said.

Tamika grew up in his home. Her photographs are placed prominently in his den.

"Lots of pictures. She was talking about going back to college. Wanted to finish her education -- be a nurse. I don't know what's happening with her. That's the hard part. We're just hoping and praying she has just gone somewhere. That she's all right," he said.

Hardy said Tamika's disappearance has investigators puzzled. "Specifically, she abandoned her home and her pets. Her car was found abandoned. And an uncashed payroll check was found in the residence," he said.

While investigators have no evidence of foul play, Hardy said they have not ruled out violence in connection with her disappearance.

Tamika's father, Anthony Huston, said he misses and loves his daughter.

"I want to know what happened to her," he said.

Anthony Huston said the family tries to stay busy. "We pray. We pass out fliers with Tamika's photo. We ask questions. We know nothing," he said.

He said the last time he spoke to his daughter, he had gone to her Harvard Street residence and cut her grass.

"There was no way we knew we would be here today, asking for help in finding her," Anthony Huston said.

He said he did not know a report had been filed by other family members about Tamika vanishing until he saw a television report.

Anthony Huston said it was not unusual that he would go several days without hearing from his daughter.

"But this is totally out of character. She went to DC in March by train. She called me several times -- even from the train," he said.

Describing his daughter as kind, loving and sweet, he said she was funny, always happy.

"I can't see why someone would do this to her. We can't believe it. But we can't rule out anything. She loved everybody," he said.

Several family members said they were surprised that Tamika's former boyfriend, Terence Moss, had been charged with criminal domestic violence in a March incident when she said he hit her in the stomach after an argument.

"She did not tell us he hit her. In March, I remember she was crazy about him," Anthony Huston said.

Hardy said that Moss had been questioned but was not a suspect in Tamika's disappearance. "He's a person of interest we have interviewed. He may become a suspect, but he is not now," Hardy said.

"I don't know what to think," Anthony Huston said. "It's sad, lonely without her. I feel empty. Like anybody would when you don't know where your children are," he said.

Hardy said all tips are being pursued, including new information received Monday night, but he would not elaborate.

"We're looking at everything," he said.

Family members are offering a $7,500 reward for information in the investigation that can be called in to 596-2035 or Crime Stoppers at 58-CRIME.

Janet Spencer can be reached at 562-7222 or janet.spencer@shj.com.