Amber Elkins, the mother of a nine-month-old baby girl, has been missing for five days. Hopes that this 20-year-old mother from the Spring area will be found alive are fading.
Amber's mom Shani Kilpatrick said, "I have faith, it's just not looking good. I just want to find her. I don't want her out there anymore."
On Friday as many as 60 volunteers with Texas Equusearch fanned out across a three mile area using the car wash on Homestead Road as a focal point. Elkins' SUV had been abandoned there and was found Monday morning. One of the windows was smashed and there was a substantial amount of blood inside.
Tim Miller with Equusearch said, "I'd like to sugar coat something and say we're holding out to find her alive, but knowing the evidence that's out there, unfortunately that's not one thing that's going to happen."
On Friday afternoon search crews shifted their attention to a heavily wooded area near Greens Road and Highway 59. Some trekked on foot while others set out on ATVs.
Elkins hasn't been seen since Sunday night. Shellie Krenzke, a long-time friend, saw her Sunday afternoon and gave Elkins $20 for gas.
Krenzke said, "She hugged and kissed me bye and told me she loved me and that I was taking her to court Monday morning."
In fact, Elkins' boss met the 20-year-old Sunday night around 8pm to give her money for a new outfit. But Elkins, who'd been fighting for custody of her daughter, never showed up to court.
"I just know that she would have called me," Kilpatrick said. "She would have called somebody. She has never gone this far or long without ever calling somebody."
Elkins' boss may have been the last person to see Elkins. Investigators tell us they've already talked to him and are calling him a witness. They are also working to track down some of Elkins' known associates so they can talk to them. Her boyfriend claims he hasn't seen the missing woman since the middle of last week.
Elkins, 20, is described as 5'8' to 5'9" tall, with black hair and brown eyes. Elkins has two stars tattooed on her wrist and the word ACE tattooed on her ankle.
Anyone with information on her disappearance is asked to contact the Harris County Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit at 713-967-5810 or call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).
