SYKESVILLE – Although there have been no substantial leads, police and family members continue their search for a Sykesville woman who has been missing for seven years, according to the family’s Web site, findjoey.org.
Seven years ago in the early morning of July 12, 2007, authorities responded to a fire at Joey Lynn Offutt’s Sykesville home. After the fire was extinguished, the remains of Offutt’s six-week-old son were discovered. However, Offutt and her car, a red Saturn with Virginia license plates, were missing.
Police found Offutt’s car four days later in State College. It was parked at the Nittany Gardens Apartment Complex. Offutt had previously lived at the apartment complex.
Offutt’s other two children, who were not in the home at the time of the fire, have been living with family members since their mother’s disappearance.
In the seven years since Offutt’s disappearance, there have been no substantial leads that have helped further the investigation.
Offutt’s family believes Offutt would not willingly leave her children. They also fear someone killed her and then tried to destroy evidence by burning the house down.
Offutt’s family continues to offer a $25,000 reward for information on her whereabouts.
At the time she went missing, Offutt was 33 years old. She’s described as a petite woman, approximately 5 feet, 3 inches tall with a thin build. Offutt has brown eyes and brown/red brown hair. She may or may not have been wearing glasses.
Offutt’s family has established a toll-free number to field tips from the public. Anyone with information is urged to call 1-877-440-JOEY (1-877-440-5639) or to contact the Pennsylvania State Police at 814 371-4652.
The family also runs a Web site to help bring public attention to the case. Visit FindJoey.org for additional information or to contact Offutt’s family with information.
