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Search efforts for missing Filley woman will likely slow next week

BY CARA PESEK / Lincoln Journal Star
Friday, May 02, 2008 - 03:25:28 pm CDT
It’s been more than two weeks since anyone in Ann Marie Kelley’s family has heard from her.

She hasn’t withdrawn any money from her bank account.

No one has seen her dark gray wood-paneled minivan.

On Tuesday Gage County Attorney Randall Ritnour held a press conference, during which he asked the public to come forward with information about Kelley, a 37-year-old mother of four with reddish brown hair and blue eyes.

“I wouldn’t say there was any kind of an avalanche of information,” Ritnour said.

And as a result, he said Friday, he expected that the search for Kelley would slow come next week.

Kelley was last seen about 8:25 a.m. on April 15 in Beatrice. A few minutes after that last sighting, she bought a few groceries at Sun-Mart.

No one has heard from her since.

Ground and air searches yielded no sign of Kelley. Investigators questioned her husband and several other family members, but no arrests have been made.

Kelley left her cell phone at her home, a ranch-style farmhouse near Filley. A note to her children was found with her phone, Ritnour said, but even that didn’t provide many clues.

“It is not a suicide note,” Ritnour said. “It is a note written to her kids, but it is not a farewell note.”

Kelley’s disappearance has puzzled investigators and worried her family, Ritnour said.

Come Monday, investigators from several agencies including the Gage County Sheriff’s Office and the Nebraska Attorney General’s office would likely meet to discuss the case, Ritnour said.

“We’re going to take stock of everything Monday and see where we’re at,” he said.

Provided there are no big developments between now and then, he said, he expected search efforts would slow.

Investigators will continue to follow up any tips they receive, he said, they’ll just do so individually instead of as a team.

Anyone with information on Ann Marie Kelley — who is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs about 125- 130 pounds — or her vehicle — a dark gray, wood-paneled 1991 Plymouth Voyager minivan — can call Beatrice Crime Stoppers at (402) 228-4343.

Reach Cara Pesek at 473-7361 or cpesek@journalstar.com.