Post by LadyBlue on Jul 3, 2007 20:16:55 GMT -5
BRADENTON – They family of a missing Bradenton woman is still holding out hope that she'll come home safely, but with each day and hour that passes, their search becomes more desperate.
On Monday, detectives on all terrain vehicles canvassed the woods near Susan Fast's home and sifted through garbage dumpsters, but there is still no sign of the 60-year old-wife and mother. She has been missing since Friday.
"It's tough," says Fast's son, Travis. "We were hoping to find her early. We want to find her, and we want to find her alive and it's just tough because the more days that go by, the less likelihood of that. We just don't want to think about that."
Investigators say they do suspect foul play. They're calling her 52-year-old step son, Thomas Fast, a person of interest. They describe him as a drifter with a criminal record, who reportedly has mental health issues.
Over the weekend, Thomas Fast was arrested on a concealed weapons charge. Although investigators have not charged him in his stepmother's disappearance, detectives said Monday that they believe he knows more than what he's saying.
"Right now, it's a two-fold investigation," says Dave Bristow, spokesman for the Manatee Sheriff's Office. "We're still trying to locate Susan Fast. We're doing everything we can to find her. We're also trying to build a case so if we get enough evidence, we can charge someone with or without finding her-- because you never know. There is a chance you may not find her."
According to transcripts obtained by Fox 13 of her stepson's first appearance before a judge on Sunday, a detective in the case described what may have been a violent struggle before Fast disappeared.
The detective said investigators found 14 blood stains throughout her home. He also said they found a set of cutting and kitchen knives that had been run through the dishwasher. He said Fast's husband, Bruce, told him they never washed those knives in the dishwasher.
The detective also in court that said Thomas Fast admitted he was in her car and told them that he was looking at her jewelry and doing some wash at her home.
Fast's SUV was found Saturday in east Bradenton, miles from her home. Detectives say the keys were left in the ignition.
A neighbor told Fox 13 her teenage son saw a man matching the stepson's description remove the license tag and two bags from the SUV. She says they alerted detectives, too.
The details in the case have left Susan Fast's other family members stunned.
"I just kept thinking I would wake up, because I've had dreams where something horrible happens and then I realize I'm in a dream and I've woken up," said her son, Travis. "That's what this feels like. I just haven't woken up yet. So, I'm thinking it's real. I have to remain positive, because that's all I have. That's all I have to latch on to."
On Monday, detectives on all terrain vehicles canvassed the woods near Susan Fast's home and sifted through garbage dumpsters, but there is still no sign of the 60-year old-wife and mother. She has been missing since Friday.
"It's tough," says Fast's son, Travis. "We were hoping to find her early. We want to find her, and we want to find her alive and it's just tough because the more days that go by, the less likelihood of that. We just don't want to think about that."
Investigators say they do suspect foul play. They're calling her 52-year-old step son, Thomas Fast, a person of interest. They describe him as a drifter with a criminal record, who reportedly has mental health issues.
Over the weekend, Thomas Fast was arrested on a concealed weapons charge. Although investigators have not charged him in his stepmother's disappearance, detectives said Monday that they believe he knows more than what he's saying.
"Right now, it's a two-fold investigation," says Dave Bristow, spokesman for the Manatee Sheriff's Office. "We're still trying to locate Susan Fast. We're doing everything we can to find her. We're also trying to build a case so if we get enough evidence, we can charge someone with or without finding her-- because you never know. There is a chance you may not find her."
According to transcripts obtained by Fox 13 of her stepson's first appearance before a judge on Sunday, a detective in the case described what may have been a violent struggle before Fast disappeared.
The detective said investigators found 14 blood stains throughout her home. He also said they found a set of cutting and kitchen knives that had been run through the dishwasher. He said Fast's husband, Bruce, told him they never washed those knives in the dishwasher.
The detective also in court that said Thomas Fast admitted he was in her car and told them that he was looking at her jewelry and doing some wash at her home.
Fast's SUV was found Saturday in east Bradenton, miles from her home. Detectives say the keys were left in the ignition.
A neighbor told Fox 13 her teenage son saw a man matching the stepson's description remove the license tag and two bags from the SUV. She says they alerted detectives, too.
The details in the case have left Susan Fast's other family members stunned.
"I just kept thinking I would wake up, because I've had dreams where something horrible happens and then I realize I'm in a dream and I've woken up," said her son, Travis. "That's what this feels like. I just haven't woken up yet. So, I'm thinking it's real. I have to remain positive, because that's all I have. That's all I have to latch on to."