Ruch, Ore.– 44-year-old Stephanie Anne Warner has been missing for a year on Friday. Her sister from Louisiana, Sharon Lambert wants the truth about what happened to her beloved sister.
“Stephanie would never have left on her own or without telling her family and friends where she was going.”
Warner was last seen walking in the Ashland Fourth of July parade in 2013.Her case is now garnering national attention with NBC Dateline.
But perhaps no one’s giving it more attention than lead detective Eric Henderson with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.
He’s worked the case since Warner’s mother reported her missing on July 9th 2013.
“At this point in time we just can’t rule out that Stephanie Warner was the victim of foul play” said Henderson.
There are no suspects in Warner’s disappearancebut there is a person of interest. Warner’s boyfriend, 61-year-old Lennie Laverne Ames.
NBC 5 interviewed Ames and his son Jarred Fournier a few weeks after Warner went missing. He told us he didn’t know where Warner went.
“I’m baffled,” said Ames.
Detective Henderson said Ames now has a warrant out for his arrest in an unrelated case of criminal trespassing and offensive littering tied to an alleged stay on BLM land.
Henderson will not detail what makes Ames a person of interest in Warner’s disappearance, just that they have some evidence that make them believe he’s involved.
“We can’t rule him out as a part or being involved in Stephanie’s disappearance at the time and as of right now he’s in Belleview, Florida with his son Jarred Fournier,” said Henderson.
The father and son now in Florida and Detective Henderson said he hasn’t been able to reach them in months.
But said he knows Ames and Warner left that Ashland Fourth of July parade together.
“There are times when looking for a missing person can be pretty disappointing and pretty exhausting,” said Henderson.
While Henderson said the search for Warner is far from over, Sharon Lambert said one year is one year too long without her beloved sister.
“We are praying constantly for her return and are not giving up hope in finding her.”
NBC 5 tried calling Lennie Ames but he never returned our message.
If you have any information on Warner’s disappearance call 541-774-8333.
NBC 5 news will have an in depth special investigation into the missing Stephanie Warner caseon Monday and Tuesday next week.
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