“We love her so much it hurts," said Shena Sandefur, Valerie Tindall's mother. "We cry ourselves to sleep and wake in tears. It is the worst pain you could ever feel. Not knowing why she left like that if she met up with someone and the worst happened." 

The family of missing seventeen-year-old Valerie Tindall is desperate to find answers and bring Valerie home. Valerie has been missing since June 7, when her family last saw her leaving her home in Arlington, Indiana, around noon. According to her mother, they have no leads.

"She was in our home doing her laundry and listening to music when she came out with a big smile on her face and asked her dad if it would be OK if she went to work for a couple of hours," Sandefur said.

Shena explained that Valerie helped a neighbor mow lawns but didn't usually work on Wednesdays. Shena assumed something had come up and her boss needed her just this Wednesday. However, when it started to get late, Shena tried to call Valerie repeatedly. Each time with the same result, it went straight to

(See “MISSING” pg. 4) 

voice mail. 

Shena next called the neighbor and asked if Valerie was still working, to which he responded, "I didn't work her today?"

Immediately Shena was confused. Valerie had not only told her dad she was going to work, but also her siblings, best friend and another neighbor were all told the same thing by Valerie. 

The following day Shena awoke hoping Valerie would pop in at any minute and say she had stayed the night at a friend's house, but the door never opened. The family quickly searched around and then called the police, as they began to fear every parent's worst nightmare. 

"Then, on day three, I began to realize that maybe she had run away or something terrible had happened," Sheena said. "We do not have a single lead."

Sheena does have a heartfelt message to share with Valerie in case she sees this article.

"If you ran away, please, please come home. There is nothing we can't work on and fix as a family. We all miss you so much. From your mom and dad to your bullies. I have had people from all over message and ask if we found you and tell us they will pray."

And prayer is what Sheena is asking for.

"That is all I can ask of everyone else - to please just pray. Pray for her safe return. Pray that she realizes how much God, family, and friends love her. Her best friend is so torn up. She misses her so much. We all just miss her so much. Life just isn't the same. Our home is broken."

A silver Alert was issued for Valerie on June 10 and stated she is believed to be in extreme danger. The Rush County Sheriff's Office is still actively investigating Valerie's disappearance and asked the public for help in a press release a couple of weeks ago.

"We are asking the public to help find Valerie and her vehicle," the Rush County Sheriff's Office said in a press release. "We are requesting property owners between Shelbyville and Homer/Arlington that have deep creek beds, low-level fields, ravines, and properties off a roadway the vehicle could be hidden on or in barns or other buildings. Also, when you are traveling, be on the lookout for areas where the vehicle could have left the roadway and not be seen easily."

Valerie was last known to be operating a green 2000 Honda Accord with Indiana License Plate ZYK833. Valerie is 5'6" tall, weighs 162 pounds, has brown hair with hazel eyes, and was last seen wearing a light blue shirt, jean shorts, and sandals. It is believed that Valerie was wearing her glasses when she disappeared.

If you have any information on Valerie's whereabouts, please get in touch with the RCSO at 765-932-2931 or call your local law enforcement agency.