Katharina Buczek
Her family contacted the Port Orange Police Department the following day, February 2, 2010, after they failed to get in touch with Laurel and reported her missing. Since Laurel’s car had been broken down at the time of her disappearance, authorities concluded that she’d been picked up either from her house or a local convenience store.
Investigators also learned that, on February 2, 2010, a male named Jamal used Laurel’s phone to call one of her friends at 6:43 p.m. on February 2 – the day she was reported missing.
During this phone call, Jamal reportedly told Laurel’s friend that she’d left her cell phone with him and that Laurel was with two unknown males – who were supposedly named “Kenny” and “Breezy.”
Authorities determined that Laurel’s cell phone last pinged to a region in New Port Richey, Florida. But, there have been few other leads or developments in her case.
Following her disappearance, there was no activity on Laurel’s bank account or phone records. All of her medications were also left at home, and Laurel did not refill her prescriptions – meaning her health was in jeopardy.
Laurel’s loved ones detailed how, in the past, Laurel’s chronic pain had pushed her to abuse prescription drugs. At the time she vanished, she was reportedly on probation for a theft conviction in 2009.
So, her family believes that drugs may have had something to do with her disappearance. But Laurel’s mother, Lauretta Rogers, refuses to give up hope and continues urging community members to come forward with any information.
“We weren’t only mom and daughter. We were best friends, too,” Lauretta said.
“Someone knows where she’s at. It only takes one person to talk to somebody. There’s a reward out. If it’s for the money, we don’t care. We just want Laurel.”
At the time she vanished, Laurel was between five foot seven and five foot ten, weighed between 150 and 160 pounds, and had brown hair and blue eyes. There is currently a $30,000 reward being offered for information regarding her disappearance.
If you have any information about Laurel’s case, you are urged to contact the Port Orange Police Department at (386) 506-5800.
