Not many of us are spared the experience of waking up to something we hope is a nightmare and then realizing sleep has let us forget for a while. We see things on the TV news that seem unbearable and wonder how people can keep positive under the grief. Well, my extended family and I are finding out how, and it is not easy. Things like this happen to other people — surely not us.
More than three weeks ago, my sister’s daughter, 41-year-old Nicole Coletti Harris, whom we call Nikki, disappeared. She often hiked in the Rock Canyon hills of Provo, Utah, so the search was concentrated there at first. However, even with hikers searching, helicopters flying, dogs sniffing, posters everywhere and a reward posted, no concrete information has turned up.
It is horrible not knowing because if one lets the mind go to possibilities, it is much worse than having closure, no matter what is found. No closure means you chase down someone who walks like Nikki or laughs like her. What if it goes on and on? It is torture.
Because it is on my mind, I noticed a recent article about a young girl from Mesa, Arizona, named Mikelle Biggs who has been missing for 17 years.
After five years, the family held a funeral for her but found it didn’t really help. Visiting an empty grave gave no comfort, and there is never an end.
Citing Carole Moore's "The Last Place You’d Look: True Stories of Missing Persons and the People Who Search for Them," facts.randomhistory.com reports that 2,300 Americans, both children and adults, are reported missing every day. The number does not include those who disappear unreported, the homeless and their children, or Americans in other countries who seemingly vanish.
It also says, “There are as many as 100,000 active missing persons cases in the U.S. at any given time.”
What we are learning is the police and their resources, after a period of time, can only go so far. Hiring a private investigator at this point is almost a very expensive necessity.
Meanwhile the nightmare of our own missing person continues. Nikki's brothers, Amos and Micah Coletti, started a GoFundMe page to help with expenses, and we are grateful for all the generous people. When many people come together for a cause, it is sustaining.
Nikki is a loving, involved and caring mother. Her eldest son, Dylan Hannig, and his wife have a young son and are expecting another child in December. His sister, Brooklyn, is on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in London, finding healing through serving others.
The other three, Saige, Jollee and 1-year-old Remi, are hoping their mother returns soon.
Nicole Coletti’s sister, Joy Gonzalez, posts on Facebook every day attempting to keep Nikki in the public eye.
In a recent post, Joy wrote, “We love Nikki and want to bring her home today! We are hoping that besides joining findnicole.com, following our 'Looking for Nicole' Facebook group, and staying apprised via our @FindNicoleH Twitter handle, you find something creative to do for her return. Please find our pdf printed below, post the sign in high traffic areas anywhere in the US. We are trying to keep the search for Nikki alive, and anything you can do is appreciated. Time is of the essence. We love you Nikki. We will find you. We’re never giving up on you.”
The days missing are now 26, and with each day added our hearts break just a little bit more.
Email: sasy273@gmail.com