Alabama family offers $5,000 reward in search for missing 26-year-old daughter whose car was found abandoned in the woods

  • Rebecca Henderson Paulk, 26, was last seen in Alabama on September 7
  • Police found her car abandoned in wooded area in Mississippi two days later
  • Her laptop, purse and iPad were inside the vehicle but not her cellphone
  • Parents say she talks to them every day and are offering a $5,000 reward

By Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: 14:47 EST, 18 September 2015 | Updated: 17:09 EST, 18 September 2015

The family of a missing 26-year-old woman from Alabama have made a desperate plea for information as to her whereabouts. 

Rebecca Henderson Paulk's car was found abandoned in the woods last week, yet the family are no closer to knowing what happened to her.

Adding to the mystery, her family say she usually speaks to them every day, but nobody has seen or heard anything from her since Labor Day.

The family is now offering a $5,000 reward for information. 

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On the lookout: Authorities are looking for Rebecca Henderson Paulk. The 26-year-old Alabama woman was last seen by her loved ones in the home of her parents on Labor Day, but she has not been seen since

On the lookout: Authorities are looking for Rebecca Henderson Paulk. The 26-year-old Alabama woman was last seen by her loved ones in the home of her parents on Labor Day, but she has not been seen since

Much loved: Her vehicle has recently been discovered in a wooded area in Whynot Community, Mississippi — leading her loved ones to fear the worst

Much loved: Her vehicle has recently been discovered in a wooded area in Whynot Community, Mississippi — leading her loved ones to fear the worst

Missing: Rebecca Henderson Paulk usually speaks to her family everyday but was last seen by her parents at their home in Alabama on Labor Day

Missing: Rebecca Henderson Paulk usually speaks to her family everyday but was last seen by her parents at their home in Alabama on Labor Day

Police spoke to the family and discovered that they had not spoken to her since she left their home on September 7 and immediately filed a missing persons report.

Her parents, Wes and Janet, have pleaded with the public to help find their daughter.

'This is a nightmare hell. Worse than that,' mother Janet told AL.com.

'I want her to alive but this not knowing is unbearable,' she added.

Paulk graduated from Demopolis High School in 2007 and now lives in Marengo County, not far from her close-knit family.

On the lookout: The family have spoken of their desperation at not hearing from their daughter 

On the lookout: The family have spoken of their desperation at not hearing from their daughter 

Signs: The Henderson family is desperately seeking their daughter while waiting for any confirmation that she is safe and alive, but with several weeks passing in her disappearance it’s hard to say what happened

Signs: The Henderson family is desperately seeking their daughter while waiting for any confirmation that she is safe and alive, but with several weeks passing in her disappearance it’s hard to say what happened

Mother Janet, left, and father Wes are desperate to get her back and have offered a $5,000 reward for information that could lead to her return
Her car was found at a secluded spot in the woods in Whynot community, Mississippi, after a passer-by reported an abandoned vehicle to the sheriff's office in Lauderdale County.

Desperate plea: Mom Janet, left, and father Wes are desperate to get her back and have offered a $5,000 reward for information that could lead to her return 

Clues: Her car was found in a secluded area where the ground was smooth enough to drive on. Rebecca's purse, laptop and iPad were found inside but not her cellphone

Clues: Her car was found in a secluded area where the ground was smooth enough to drive on. Rebecca's purse, laptop and iPad were found inside but not her cellphone

Janet said it was extremely out of character for her daughter not to go a day without being in touch. 

Henderson said Rebecca was last seen in a store in Meridian, Mississippi, and believes someone may have placed Paulk's vehicle in Whynot.

The car was found in a secluded area where the ground was smooth enough to drive on. Rebecca's purse, laptop and iPad were found inside but not her cellphone.

'God knows who was driving that car,' Janet said.

Lauderdale County Chief Deputy Ward Calhountold ABC: 'We are hoping that she has gotten into a vehicle with someone else or she's at someone's home.'

Henderson is asking anyone to come forward, even anonymously. She said she will not get anyone involved who doesn't want to be. She just wants to know what happened.

The family may be contacted through the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office or their Facebook page.

The Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office asks that anyone with information on her call 601-486-4952 or 601-482-9806.

Out-of-character: Authorities haven’t expressly confirmed any signs of foul play, but the fact that her car was abandoned with her personal belongings does not send a positive message

Out-of-character: Authorities haven’t expressly confirmed any signs of foul play, but the fact that her car was abandoned with her personal belongings does not send a positive message

Family fun: Could this missing woman be the victim of foul play, or could there be other reasons behind this mysterious disappearance?

Unlucky? There haven’t been any reported disappearances of similar nature in this area for many years

Unlucky? There haven’t been any reported disappearances of similar nature in this area for many years

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