This weekend marks three years since Lisa Irwin disappeared from her home in Kansas City, Mo.
Her parents say they try to get through every day, maintaining structure for their two boys, ages 8 and 11. But constant reminders of their missing daughter make each passing day harder.
“We were talking about Halloween costumes and we got the boys picked out and we're going to go get Lisa's soon,” said Deborah Bradley, Lisa’s mom. “We don't know what she likes. We don't know what her favorite cartoon character is. We don't know her and she doesn't know us.”
Lisa disappeared from her room sometime during the night between Oct. 3 and Oct. 4, 2011. While her story is no longer front page news, her parents say their resolve to find Lisa is still just as strong.
“She's been gone for three years now and somebody at some point in time has got to have taken her to the doctor, to daycare or something,” said Jeremy Irwin, Lisa’s father. “She had to have been out in public somewhere.”
Bradley and Irwin continue to update their website, FindLisaIrwin.com and their Facebook page, Lisa Irwin: Footprints in the Sand. Through these websites, they gain support from people around the world. They also use them to help other families by posting pictures and information of their loved ones.
“It originally started out as a page for her and it grew into a page for other people, so if we can't get her home right now, but we can help somebody else, that means something,” Bradley said.
They also receive tips through the sites, which they immediately pass on to the Kansas City Police Department.
“Even if it's a tip that doesn't pan out, there's no tip too small,” Bradley said.
A spokesman for KCPD told 41 Action News that in the last year, the department has received 100 tips or leads. Each one becomes its own investigation. The department continues to ask anyone with information to come forward or call the TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS.
“It's painful to know that it's been three years and Lisa is still not home, but it feels good to know that the community is still watching out for her,” Bradley said.
The family is holding a public vigil on Saturday at 7 p.m. at their home at 3620 North Lister Ave. in Kansas City, Mo.
