Man last seen with missing Texas woman: "I'm not hiding anything"
PLANO, Texas -- A man who was the last person seen with Fort Worth woman Christina Morris before she vanished two months ago tells CBS DFW he's not hiding anything and doesn't know where Morris is.
Christina Marie Morris, 23, was last seen Aug. 30 after spending a night out with friends at a popular Plano shopping and dining development. She was last seen walking into a parking garage at The Shops at Legacy at about 4 a.m. that Saturday morning, reported CBS DFW.
Friends and family reportedly didn't realize she was missing until she didn't show up for work Sept. 2 after the Labor Day weekend. Her silver Toyota Celica was found unmoved, still parked in the garage.
Surveillance video shows Morris and the friend, Enrique Arochi, walking together in a parking garage. Arochi reportedly told police that he last saw Morris as she was walking towards her car, and he was walking towards his. The two aren't seen separating on the video.
Arochi graduated from Allen High School with Morris. He says the two were acquaintances, and had mutual friends, reports the station.
Morris' mother has told the station she believes Arochi knows something about her daughter's disappearance. But in an interview with CBS DFW, Arochi said: "I had nothing to do with her disappearance," adding he does not know where Morris is.
Arochi says he has not spoken with Morris's mother, despite protests Morris's supporters have staged outside Arochi's parents' home in Allen, reports the station.
"Now they're protesting in front of my house, asking for answers which I don't have. Everything I've said, I've told police. Everything I know I've told police," said Arochi.
Plano police spokesman Officer Dave Tilley told 48 Hours' Crimesider that Arochi has been questioned and is not believed to be involved. However, Tilley said no one has been ruled out.
"At this point we're keeping our options open - we haven't cleared anyone from continuing to want to look at them as having more information or knowledge about her disappearance than they're providing," Tilley said.
Tilley said he has no suspects and nothing to indicate that a crime has been committed or that Morris isn't still alive, however it's concerning that Morris has been missing for so long. It's uncharacteristic of her to have been out of touch with friends and family for so long, he said.
"As each day passes, our level of concern that this potentially has been a criminal act increases," Tilley said.
Crews and volunteers have combed the area for any sign of the woman, and last month, the FAA approved the use of a drone in the search after an emergency authorization. Volunteers have also scoured the area on foot, horseback and in ATVs.
Police have also received more than 250 tips and have run each down, to no avail. They're hoping that keeping the case in the public eye will encourage others to come forward.
"We just want her home safely," her mother Jonni McElroy told the station. "Our life is not complete without her... and it won't be complete until we have her. We need her."
A reward of up to $25,000 is being offered in Morris' disappearance for information that leads to an arrest and an indictment, if a crime has been committed. Tipsters should call the Plano police at 972 941 2148 or, to be eligible for the reward, contact Crimestoppers at 877-373-8477.