Thousands Attend Fundraiser For Missing Woman
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (WCCO) - More than 2,000 people turned out Monday night to support the family of a young woman who's been missing for more than a month.
Mandy Matula, 24, disappeared May 1. Her boyfriend, David Roe, killed himself after Eden Prairie Police called him in for questioning.
A quick glance and it seemed like a festive occasion at Brunswick Zone, where Mandy worked and was last seen. Her portraits decorated the room, as did her college softball number, 14, and purple - her favorite color.
Mandy's father, Wayne Matula, says the turnout reflects the impact Mandy had on those around her.
"This is a night for her, wherever she might be. This is her party," Matula said. "This is kind of evidence right here that she touched so many people."
The food was donated, the band volunteered and the bowling lanes were free to Mandy's friends and family.
Wayne Matula said they wanted to have some fun in honor of his daughter's life because for weeks, they've just been crying over it.
"Love your children. If there's one thing that would possibly come out of this is that someone would take their child…tell them they love them, spend some time with them, read the Bible with them, pray with them," he said.
Matula says he still prays that Mandy returns alive, but he acknowledged that a month had passed since her disappearance. Despite take, he takes great comfort in the last four words his daughter spoke to him.
"Last thing I heard from her was, 'I love you, Dad.' And I have that to live with for the rest of my life if nothing else does prevail," he said.
As for the search, Matula says there are no new leads, and they don't know where to even look at this point.
Aside from prayers, Wayne asks people to just take an extra look around their yards, parks and neighborhoods just in case.
