Kent, Washington. Back in 2009, Alyssa McLemore was just 21-years-old and despite her young age, she already had her hands full caring for several of her loved ones.
At the time, Alyssa’s daughter was quite young, and in addition to taking care of her daughter, Alyssa also greatly helped in caring for her mom, who had a terrible disease.
In light of the fact that her mom was bed-bound, she assisted in taking care of her younger brother as well.
Alyssa’s mom was diagnosed with a very rare autoimmune disease called Scleroderma, which made her skin extremely fragile and left her in excruciating pain.
Alyssa lived with her daughter, her mom, her grandma, and her brother in Kent, Washington.
“She was spending her teens and early twenties watching her mother fight for her life, due to a very aggressive case of scleroderma,” Alyssa’s grandma Barbara wrote on Facebook.
“…She was ever vigilant to be a good daughter, granddaughter, and Mother dealing with the hand she was dealt in life, with as much grace as she could muster up being her age.”
Alyssa’s loved ones say she was always kind and caring, and always eager to step up to help her family members. She may have had a lot on her plate, but she never let it show.
Kent Police Department; pictured above is Alyssa
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On April 9th, 2009, Alyssa talked to her grandma Barbara on the phone. It was around 6:30 that evening, and Alyssa’s grandma told her that her mom was getting worse.
She asked Alyssa to come home, and Alyssa said she was going to do that. Alyssa’s grandma has said that the very last thing Alyssa told her over the phone was to take care of her daughter for her.
Then, Alyssa disappeared. Her family would never see or hear from her after that phone call.
The Kent Police Department began looking into Alyssa’s disappearance, and they learned that the day she disappeared, someone saw Alyssa in Kent, close to Kent-Des Moines Road and 30th Avenue South.
“The witness saw a green 1990s model pickup truck, possibly with Oregon license plates, approach Alyssa,” Alyssa’s family wrote on Facebook.
“She has never been heard from again. Her mother died three days later, but her family was unable to get in touch with her. The day after her mother’s death, Alyssa’s cellular phone went out of service and stopped taking messages.”
“Authorities discovered Alyssa’s cellular phone dialed 911 at 9:15 p.m. on April 10, the day after she was last heard from.”
“The dispatcher heard a woman asking for help, but the phone did not have a GPS sensor and its exact location could not be determined before the line went dead. Authorities believe the call came from the Kent area, however. The caller has never been identified.”
Facebook; pictured above is another photo of Alyssa with her natural hair color
Alyssa’s loved ones know she never would have up and left all on her own. Her mom was seriously ill, her family needed her, and she had a daughter whom she adored and would not leave behind.
The father of Alyssa’s daughter has even said Alyssa was a devoted mom who wouldn’t dream of abandoning her daughter in any way.
“Detectives have investigated every lead, but Alyssa’s whereabouts remain unsolved,” the Kent Police Department said in a statement.
“If you have any information about Alyssa, please call the Kent Police Department Tip Line (253)856-5808 and reference Kent case number 09-3906.”
Alyssa’s family is still holding out hope that she’s out there somewhere, and Alyssa’s daughter keeps lighting a candle for her mom, hoping she will one day be found.
“You were loved before you were ever born,” Alyssa’s grandma Barbara wrote in a Facebook post for her.
“Each year of your life was full of joy and bliss. You did a lot for others and your love of family was expressed without looking for financial benefit for the things you did. You never expected extra credit for the things you were supposed to do.”
“How we have continued in our search for you…I don’t know…but I do know that if the shoe were on the other foot…you would never give up …NEVER.”
“We strive to give Bitty baby all of the love that we know you would…but she misses you terribly…praying for your safe return to us…so that life will continue…in a better way…as we all love you…Gma.”
Alyssa is between 5’1″ to 5’3″ and weighs approximately 130 pounds. She has brown eyes and though her hair is naturally black, she frequently dyes it blonde.
She was 21 when she went missing, and right now she would be 33-years-old.