CANDLELIGHT VIGIL MARKS 1 YEAR FOR MISSING GIRL

St. Joseph News-Press

Wednesday marked the 365th night Tammy Navinskey went to sleep not knowing where her daughter, Ashley Martinez, was.
No phone calls. No letters. No trace of her.

Family and community members gathered Wednesday night in an effort to shed some light on Ms. Martinez’ disappearance, so that some night Mrs. Navinskey can know where her daughter is sleeping.

“It’s been a year and we’ve had no contact with her,” said John Navinskey, Ms. Martinez’ stepfather.

Ms. Martinez, now 16, left town July 6, 2004, and was last seen at Krug Pool — the location of a candlelight vigil conducted in her memory Wednesday night.
A group of about 50 lit candles and prayed at dusk in the pool’s parking lot. Pictures of Ms. Martinez, white roses and some of her personal items adorned an altar-like table in front of the crowd.

“Hopefully this will be a strong enough prayer to get her home,” Mrs. Navinskey said.

The St. Joseph Police Department has received more than 100 tips on Ms. Martinez’ disappearance, but none have checked out, according to Sgt. Jill Voltmer.
“I can assure you we will not give up until we bring Ashley home,” said Ms. Voltmer, lead missing persons investigator for the Police Department. “… That’s my guarantee to John and Tammy.”

Kelly Jolkowski, of Omaha, Neb., said she has spent more than 1,000 nights waiting to find out what had happened to her son, Jason.

Ms. Jolkowski, founder of Project Jason, a non-profit organization that assists in missing persons searches, traveled to St. Joseph Wednesday to speak at the vigil.

“Oftentimes when leads run out, all we have is awareness and hope,” she said, encouraging family and friends to post Ms. Martinez’ posters in as many places as possible. “This is why what you do is so important.”

Ms. Martinez left St. Joseph last year with Chris Hart, 33, a convicted felon. Mr. Hart was arrested in Washington on a parole violation warrant in September and since has been extradited to Jackson County. He continues to refuse to divulge Ms. Martinez’ whereabouts, police say.

The Carole Sund/Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation is offering a $5,000 reward for anyone with information leading to the safe return of Ms. Martinez.

Citizens are asked to call the Tips Hotline, 238-TIPS, Ms. Voltmer at 271-4747 with any information regarding the endangered teen runaway.