The search continues for an Elizabethton woman whose family says they have not heard from her in just over three weeks.
On May 18, the Elizabethton Police Department issued an appeal to the public asking for help in locating 45-year-old Rebecca Jean Johnson after family members filed a missing person report.
Johnson’s daughter filed the missing person report on May 15 and told officers she had not had contact with her mother since May 1. The woman told officers she had texted Johnson on May 1 and her mother indicated in her text response that she “needed to get out for a while,” EPD Capt. Joy Shoun said, adding Johnson has not answered any phone calls or text messages since that day.
During their investigation, Shoun said officers learned Johnson had been seen in the Gatlinburg area on the same day her family reported her missing. Some witnesses there told officers they saw Johnson and it appeared she had slept in her vehicle in a parking lot. Johnson reportedly told the witnesses her SUV was out of gas and she didn’t have money to purchase more. Shoun said the witnesses purchased $20 worth of fuel for Johnson and said she told them she had spoken with her sister and would be heading home to Elizabethton.
Shoun said Johnson never returned home and no one in the family reported having any contact with her on May 15.
On Monday, Shoun said investigators had not received any new leads into Johnson’s disappearance or her whereabouts.
“We’ve not had any additional sightings,” Shoun said.
Shoun said investigators are continuing to look into Johnson’s disappearance and are following up on information they have received.
While Shoun said there is no information or evidence to suggest anything suspicious in Johnson’s disappearance, she said investigators and family members are concerned about the woman’s wellbeing.
“Based on some information given to us by the family we have some concern due to some previous medical issues that she has had,” Shoun said, adding they are concerned if Johnson has her needed medication with her and if not if she has the means to obtain the medical care she needs. “It’s a welfare situation at this time”.
Johnson was last seen operating a black 2010 Nissan Rogue SUV, Tennessee registration D96-94P. She is 5’1” tall, weighs about 225 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Elizabethton Police Department (423) 542-4141.