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'Something that's been lingering': 19 years later, missing Washington County woman's case unsolved

With the Washington County Sheriff's Office forming a task force with better technology to investigate and a vigil coming up, the family is optimistic.

MACON, Ga. — On May 10, 2004, Sonya Tukes left her home and never returned. 19 years later, Washington County investigators reopened the case, which is still unsolved.

13WMAZ's Kamilah Williams talked with the family and sheriff's office about her disappearance.

"It's been hard, but I've been taking it, I've been taking it, going on 19 years," said Susan Rogers.

Rogers still remembers when her daughter Sonya Tukes went missing.

"Last time I seen her was that Sunday before she went missing. I was at work when somebody called and somebody told me she went missing," Rogers said.

When she found out, Rogers says she was emotional, and she, "Didn't know what to do at the time but I had people come talk to me and I calmed down."

Rogers said she took down all of the pictures of her daughter at home because it was too much. She says Sonya had a loving spirit.

"She was a good person, she was a hardworking person, she didn't bother nobody unless you bothered her, and she loved her little boy," she said.

Washington County Sheriff Joel Cochran asked for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's assistance with the case. He says there is one suspect, but he wouldn't give any details, and says he hopes an upcoming vigil will help give their office some information.

"At the end of the day, we want to bring some closure to the family, we want to bring some closure to the community because this has been something that's been lingering," Cochran said.

With the Washington County Sheriff's Office forming a task force with better technology to investigate and the vigil coming up, Cochran says the family is optimistic, "And hopefully we can energize the community to help us uncover something that's going to help us find her."

Rogers says she also needs your support in finding her daughter.

"It means a lot to me, and I hope it means a lot to a lot of more people," said Rogers.

The vigil in Tukes' memory will be held on May 4 at 7 p.m. at the Washington County Courthouse.

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