Woman still searching for justice 4 years after daughter's murder

By Jessica Leffler

WHITE CLOUD, Mich. (WOOD) -- What happened to Amanda Lankey?

The teenager disappeared a night in June 2004 and was later found murdered.

A vigil for Amanda Lankey will be held at 7pm Saturday at Mill Park Pond in White Cloud

Friday, investigators flanked by Amanda's parents, announced a $5,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible.

The reward was made possible throught the Carol Sund-Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation.

At a press conference, investigators said they are still actively pursuing all leads, and have interviewed up to 300 people.

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Now, four years later, 24 Hour News 8 sat down and talked with her mother. Victoria Foster said she is planning on a vigil for Amanda on Saturday. The bottom line in her quest for justice, she says, is finding who murdered her daughter.

Foster is left to wonder what could have been for Amanda.

"Probably with a boyfriend, making plans, you know, some day to be married and having kids of her own. She can't do that now."

Foster lives in Florida but comes back to her former hometown of White Cloud armed with hope that police will crack the case of who murdered her 13-year-old daughter.

She is still waiting for answers.

"It's hard for us to keep coming here every year without any answers. No one's been arrested. There's nothing more than the first day," said Foster. "When we walk into town, people know why we're here. And I guess that's why we keep coming back, 'cause we want them to remember Amanda."

24 Hour News 8 followed the search for Amanda when she disappeared from a friend's house. An Amber Alert was never issued, just clues and possible leads.

Now her mom is again looking to the public to help solve the case and keep Amanda's memory alive.

"I just urge people to pick up the phone, call the tip line. You don't have to tell them who you are. They don't have to know. Just pick up the phone. Any little thing could help. I want somebody to step up, step up for Amanda, for her family, for the rest of the kids here."

Many businesses in town are supporting the search to find justice for Amanda.

"No, it doesn't seem like it's been four years at all," said Danielle Frantz, an employee at a local bar. "And why has it, you know, gone on this long? That's what we don't understand."

"It's not going to bring Amanda back, and it's not going to stop the pain. But it will stop the person from doing it again. We can't let him get away with it," said Foster.