SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The search for a missing woman with Alzheimer's disease continues after her purse was found Saturday just three-quarters of a mile from where she was last seen at the Poteet Flea Market three weeks ago.
Texas Equusearch recently took over the search for Maria Llamas, 69.
Volunteers gathered Sunday morning at the command center on Palo Alto and Applewhite roads to continue the search for her.
Mary Palafox, who didn’t know the family prior to Llamas’ disappearance, spent Sunday afternoon searching the Leon Creek bed for signs of the missing woman.
“I just put myself in their place,” Palafox said. “You know, like, what if it was part of your family? You wouldn’t give up hope.”
Discovering the purse led to a renewed sense of hope for hundreds of search crew members.
"We haven't stopped," Llamas' son-in-law, Abel Orta, said. "We're at day 21. We still have hope. We're still motivated. Today gives us a real good direction of where we need to search."
Lamas' family is offering a reward for her return.
Anyone who may see Llamas is asked to stay with her and call 911 immediately.