NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Metro investigators will continue searching a rural, wooded area in Hickman County for evidence in the Tabitha Tuders case.
Metro cold case detectives, along with Urban Search and Rescue officers and FBI agents, began searching a 6-acre property in Bon Aqua on Wednesday.
Metro obtained a warrant to search the property, which used to belong to a person-of-interest surrounding Tabitha's disappearance. That person no longer owns the property because he is now serving a federal sentence for other crimes out-of-state.
People who live nearby hope investigators find something.
“The family needs closure,” said neighbor Eric Palen. “I got an 18-year-old daughter and son the same age she was, it could have happened to them.”
Tabitha’s family never moved from their East Nashville home after she disappeared in 2003. She was only 13 when she left her home to go to a bus stop and was never seen again.
In response to Wednesday's search, the Tuders family released the following statement:
"Every day, we pray for answers in Tabitha's case. Today is no different. We appreciate the work law enforcement agencies are doing to try to find her after 17 long years. As we wait patiently to learn more, we ask that you give our family privacy at this time. We have never given up hope that we will find Tabitha."
Read more:
Tabitha Tuders case: 'Recent information' prompts search for evidence in Hickman County
