Search continues for missing Leesburg woman

LEESBURG, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35 ORLANDO) – Leesburg police officers, along with officers from other agencies and volunteers are searching for a woman who has been missing for over a week.

Trautie Rankin, 74, was last seen nine days ago at her Leesburg apartment complex.  Volunteers passed  out flyers at a busy intersection near Rankin’s residence on Tuesday afternoon.

“We’ve had any other residents that want to join in the search, and we’ve handed out probably over 300 flyers and we’ll continue to do so, ” said Amy Lewis, a volunteer.

Leesburg Police searched the wooded area behind Rankin’s complex —  over the weekend they used a chopper and searched on horseback.

“We did have information that she used to like to walk to Walmart, which is not too far from that apartment complex, so we had officers walking that route checking kind of the wooded area just kind of off the beaten path,” said Capt. Rob Hicks of the Leesburg Police Department.

“Those officer spent half the day getting really deep into the wood line they used some four wheel vehicles and some search technologies and came up with nothing.”

Officers say family members notified police when they couldn’t get in touch with Rankin. Police have posted flyers with Rankin’s picture, at the Silver Pointe Apartment  complex, the senior living community where she lived by herself, moving in about a month ago from South Carolina.

 “I just feel bad that nobody’s seen her yet,” said Bobby Taylor, a resident at the complex.
Volunteers who work at the complex where Rankin lived spent the afternoon going door to door to spread the word.

“We’re definitely concerned about her and are looking to bring her home safely to her family,” said Lewis.

Leesburg Police say they’re re-grouping right now  to determine when and where they’ll conduct their next search.  Anyone who might have seen Rankin should call the Leesburg Police Department at  352-787-2121.