Family Vows To Find Chelsea Bruck Despite Police No Longer 'Actively Searching'

MONROE (WWJ) - Teams from Texas will be joining the search for a 22-year-old Monroe County woman who has been missing for nearly two weeks.

Police on Wednesday said they are no longer actively searching for Chelsea Bruck, who disappeared from an Oct. 26 a Halloween Party, saying investigators haven't uncovered any information "to believe that she is not alive at this time."

But that's not stopping Bruck's family from trying to bring her home. Members of the Texas EquuSearch Mounted Search & Recovery organization will be joining the search for Bruck at 8 a.m. Friday, and again Saturday and Sunday if needed.

"We will only be sending people out once a day, and that will be at 8 a.m.," the family said in a statement. "We realize that it is more difficult for schedules, but that is how we will be organizing the search efforts from here on out."

Volunteers are encouraged to join the search party, which will gather at the Monroe Bank and Trust building on Swan Creek Road in Newport each morning around 7:45.

"We understand its early, but we need to utilize as much daylight as possible," the family said.

Bruck was last seen at a Halloween party on Post Road in rural Frenchtown Township, about 35 miles southwest of Detroit. She was last seen wearing a "Poison Ivy" Batman character costume, which consisted of black tight-fitting yoga pants or leggings, a green ivy leaf-covered top, and a long, dark purple wig.

Sheriff's officials said a witness reported seeing Bruck walking away from the party at around 3 a.m. with an unknown man. The pair was spotted walking toward where cars were parked, according to the witness, but it's unknown whether or not they left together.

Monroe County Sheriff Dale Malone said the outdoor party drew an estimated 600 people, including many from out-of-state. Despite following up on nearly 300 tips — many from drunken party-goers — Malone said investigators still don't have any evidence as to the whereabouts of Bruck or the identity of a man with whom she was reportedly last seen.

"Take 600 people and put them in costumes, and then try and have those people relay stuff back to us — that's the problem; that's what we're dealing with right now," Malone said at a Wednesday news conference.

Further complicating matter, Malone said, is Bruck left her cell phone with a friend before she disappeared.

Although the case remains open, Malone's investigators have formally stopped their search.

"We have no reason to believe she's in harm; we have no reason to believe she's not in harm," he said. "We're handling the investigation like it's a legitimate missing person case, and where it is taking us."

Bruck is described as a white female with blond hair, around 5 feet, 7 inches tall and 140 lbs. with a small tattoo of an anchor behind her right ear.

Crime Stoppers of Michigan is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to Bruck's whereabouts.

Anyone who has seen her, the man she was with, or who has any information about this case is urged to call the Monroe County Sheriff's Office at 734-240-7700, Monroe County Central Dispatch at 734-243-7070 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.

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