NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Virginia State Police and the Newport News Police Department are searching for a missing woman who is considered to be endangered.
Shanitia Mikell Eure-Lewis, 35, was last seen Sunday around 9 a.m. at Gethsemane Baptist Church at 5405 Roanoke Avenue, according to the police department.
“We don’t know where she’s at. It’s a part of us that’s missing," said Deborah Dodson, a Gethsemane Baptist Church member.
The pick-up truck Eure-Lewis was in while leaving the church was located in the City of Hampton, Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew told said. Drew said they are investigating every lead to find Eure-Lewis.
“We are talking to the husband and there’s a lot of questions that I have, that detectives have. I'm hoping he’s cooperating with us and willing to answer," said Drew.
Chief Drew said the police department printed out about 500 missing person flyers to help pass out to the community.
“Just seeing her every Sunday morning. Seeing how active she is in the church, in the community, her job. I mean she’s an asset to all of us," said Drew.
Eure-Lewis is believed to possibly be in danger due to her lack of communication with family. As a result, Virginia State Police has issued an Ashanti Alert for Eure-Lewis.
“She was part of our 8 o’clock worship. As I understand it, she left to go home to get her two sons and bring them back the next worship service but did not return to the next worship service," said Gethsemane Baptist Church Pastor Dwight Riddick.
Eure-Lewis is roughly 5'7" tall, weighs about 178 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a cream-colored pinstripe shirt and pants with tan flats.
“We’re just trusting and believing that somebody is going to see and hear and know something and report it and she is going to come back to us safe," said Dodson.
If you have any information about her location, please call the Newport News Police Department at 757-928-4245 or click here.