THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, June 24, 1995 TAG: 9506240343
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
The hunt for a 21-year-old Georgia college student who vanished Monday continued Friday as friends posted fliers around the Oceanfront asking for help and announcing a $25,000 reward.
Police reported no new leads, however, as they pressed their investigation into the disappearance of Jennifer Lea Evans. The pre-med student at Emory University in Atlanta was last seen at The Bayou, a popular Oceanfront-area nightclub, early Monday morning.
``We hope this emotional roller coaster comes to a happy end,'' said Andria Burdette, 21, Evans' college roommate.
Burdette and a friend were at The Bayou on Friday night continuing their own hunt for information about what has happened to their friend. They and other friends and relatives spent the day plastering the Oceanfront area with fliers seeking information.
``There's been an enormous effort from people we know in this area and from our friends at school,'' Burdette said. ``And we've been very pleased with the support we've been getting.''
The Southern Company has offered the $25,000 reward in the event that criminal activity is involved in Evans' disappearance.
``We hope this will help,'' said David Mould, a spokesman for the Atlanta-based utility holding company where Evans' mother works, ``and we've had a number of employees who have expressed concerns about this young lady.''
For police, the case remains a mystery and not officially a criminal investigation because there is still no solid evidence that a crime was committed. But investigators are working around the clock.
``We're hoping the latest addition to the reward fund will generate some information that helps,'' police spokesman Mike Carey said Friday night. ``But nothing's really changed. Our investigators are out there right now working the case. Any leads that come in are being followed up. If we get a Crime Solvers tip at 1 in the morning, we'll act on it immediately.''
Police have questioned the last man known to have seen Evans. The man, a Navy SEAL, was identified after police released a sketch of the man based on descriptions from the missing woman's friends. He was later released.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Virginia Beach Crime Solvers at 427-0000. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY C. KNAPP\ Jim Paulk of Albany, Ga., posts a flier
announcing a $25,000 reward for help finding Jennifer Lea Evans,
missing since Monday.
by CNB