Search renews for missing Andrews woman

By Laura Thomas - bio | email

ANDREWS, SC (WMBF) - Nearly five years after she went missing, there is a renewed effort to bring one Andrews woman back home.

Crystal Gail Soles has been missing since the morning of Jan. 24, 2005. Investigators say she was last spotted at the Shaw's Corner Store near Jones Avenue and Main Street in Andrews.

A new tip has led police to search once again. The Community United Effort (CUE) Center for Missing Persons, along with several local law enforcement agencies were supposed to search this weekend, but because the ground is wet, and more rain is expected, they are postponing the search until the land can dry up in January.

Gail Soles, Crystal's mom, says the past five years have been difficult with search after search leading nowhere.

"She'll always be in my heart," she said. "I'll never, never let it go."

Crystal's aunt, Geraldine Ward, says not knowing what happened has been tough on the family.

"It's hard but we have to go ahead and hope for the best and just keep looking," Ward said.

Gail Soles still keeps pictures as reminders of her daughter around the house, but nothing reminds her of her daughter as much as the smile of Crystal's son, 10-year-old Mitchell.

Soles has now adopted Mitchell, and she says he often asks about his mom.

"If he gets hurt or gets sick, he'll say, 'I really want my momma,'" she explained.

With a new tip and a new search planned, Soles says closure seems closer than ever.

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