Authorities in western Pennsylvania are growing increasingly concerned about a 64-year-old grandmother who vanished while searching for her beloved cat, Pepper. Elizabeth Pollard was last seen Monday evening, and her family alerted the police early Tuesday morning when she did not return.
Search efforts led authorities to Pollard’s car, which was found parked near a local restaurant in the village of Marguerite. Inside the vehicle was her 5-year-old granddaughter, who was fortunately safe but confused after waiting for her grandmother to come back.
As the search continued, teams discovered a manhole-sized sinkhole nearby, which had not been noticed by people in the area prior to Pollard’s disappearance. This raises concerns that the sinkhole may have recently formed and could be linked to her disappearance.
Rescue crews have been using advanced technology, including a pole camera equipped with a sensitive listening device, to explore the depths of the sinkhole. On one of the attempts, a second camera revealed what appears to be a shoe approximately 30 feet below the surface. Authorities are hopeful, yet cautious, about the search.
John Bacha, the Chief of the Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Company, stated, “We are pretty confident we are in the right place. We’re hoping there is still a void she could be in.” This sentiment reflects the urgency and determination of the rescue teams working in challenging, icy conditions, with nighttime temperatures dropping below freezing.
Trooper Steve Limani expressed his concerns, suggesting that it seems the sinkhole may have opened suddenly while Pollard was nearby. Pollard’s home is located just across the street from where her car was found, making her disappearance all the more perplexing.
In Pennsylvania, sinkholes can be common due to the area’s history of coal mining, which can cause ground subsidence. A representative from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection noted that they will investigate the sinkhole further after the search operations conclude, to determine if it was indeed caused by mining activities from the past.
As the search moves forward, the community is rallying around Pollard’s family, holding onto hope for her safe return.
