The Fourth of July holiday is celebrated by many people, but for Krishonda Shonda Townsend's family, it is a stark reminder of another year without any answers as to why someone would murder their loved one.Shonda, a 19 year-old mother from Perrin, Texas had spent July 4, 2010, with her friends and family in Mineral Wells. Shonda joined her friends for the party, which included a cookout and fireworks.Shonda TownsendShonda drove her friend home around 11 p.m. after the fireworks show had ended. Later, the friend would tell police and Shonda's family that Shonda had gone inside briefly to check Facebook. She updated her status and posted I got this.Shortly after leaving the U.S. Highway 180 West house, Shonda headed to Perrin, Texas, where she shared her home with Carolyn and Haiden, her 2-year-old son. She never made it.Dateline received a text message from Carolyn Rittenbury on July 5, at 12:10 AM. The text stated that she was headed home. Carolyn went to sleep expecting to wake her daughter the next morning.Carolyn stated that Carolyn was still not home when Carolyn woke me up the next morning. She didn't want to be out all night. She had no one to run from. She loved the little boy she had. She would not have gone like that by herself."Her mother described her as loving, kind, and full-of-life. Shonda was always smiling. Shonda attended Weatherford College on a part-time basis and was active in youth programs at her church. She loved her family, the Lord, Haiden, and she loved them all.Carolyn said that he was her entire world. He was her whole world, Carolyn said. Never.Shonda's 1997 grey and purple Toyota Camry was discovered in Mineral Wells two days later. The stereo was ripped out and the car was ransacked. Shonda's personal belongings were discovered in the car, and her family was alerted.Continue the storyApril Hambrick Heinecke is Shonda's aunt and has been consumed since the beginning by her nieces' case. She said that Dateline authorities did not secure the car nor process it for evidence. They gave their approval for the family's right to take the car. A few days later, a passerby discovered the keys to Shonda's car in an adjacent lot.Mineral Wells Police initially reported that cell phone activity continued at Shonda's phone up to around 2 a.m. on July 5, the day before the phone died. The phone was never found.As the days, weeks, and months went by without any answers, rumors and allegations swirled around the tiny Texas town of Mineral Wells and the smaller Texas town of Perrin.Ground and aerial searches were conducted by police. Private searches, including one done by the CUE Center for Missing Persons, were also carried out. Interviews were conducted with dozens of relatives, friends, and people of interest.However, no one has any information regarding Shonda's whereabouts.Shonda's aunt decided to take matters into her own hands, and she began her own investigation. She organized searches and launched the Facebook group Help Find Missing Women: Shonda Leanntownsend.She was always online, searching for clues. After several months without finding Shonda, April decided to take another route.Everyday, I woke up, checked the internet, and made sure to identify any bodies that were being identified. April agreed. We knew she was gone but we didn't give up. We needed closure. We needed closure.Shonda's family would not get an answer for more than a year. It wasn't what they had hoped."It is with heavy hearts and bittersweet relief that I inform you that... the remains of skeletal remains in Mineral wells, Texas are those of our precious Shonda," April stated in October 2011, while acting as spokesperson for the family. "I want to thank everyone for your support and prayers. Please allow our family time to grieve and heal.The Palo Pinto Sheriffs Department took over the case after the discovery of Shondas remains. In October 2011, a potential buyer for a tract of approximately 100 acres discovered a human skull. Her dental records identified the remains as Shonda. They were found near Sand Hill Road's edge.April shared that she had braces with pink bands. They were perfect for her personality. They noticed her remains immediately after they were discovered. Her braces. It was her.Dateline was informed by Captain Chad Jordan from the Palo Pinto Sheriffs Department that a cause for death could not be determined because of the state of the remains. However, he did tell Dateline that Shonda's case is being investigated as a homicide.Shondas friends and several others were interviewed at the same time. They were also subject to polygraph testing in Capt. Jordan described the investigation as extensive, but said that no single person was of particular interest.Although the case has been investigated by several detectives throughout the years, Captain Jordan maintains that their goal is to bring Shonda or any other person responsible to justice and bring closure to the family.It is now 10 years later, and it has just stopped. Captain Jordan stated that time is not a friend in these cases. We would love to see the case resolved and the perpetrator brought to justice. We are still working hard to make sure her case doesn't get put on hold.Shonda disappeared 11 years ago this July.April Hambrick Heinecke continues to work a full time job and is still looking for clues as to what happened to her niece. Dateline was informed by her that new information had been provided to her family in the last year. This could provide some closure in the case. Investigators have received the information.The family is still asking anyone with information to come forward. They hope to find closure for both themselves and Haiden, who was just a few years old when his mother disappeared.Carolyn shared with Dateline that he was a smart little boy who was only two years old. But he loved his mom so much. He would often ask her for her, wanting to find out where she was. We told him at the time to pray to Jesus.Haiden, now 13, lives with his grandmother. She keeps Shonda's memory alive. They look at photos and talk daily about her, vowing to never forget her smile. They visit her every day and she is buried just down the street.Carolyn stated to Dateline that she would like to find out who did this to her daughter. The biggest question is why. But she said she has given all of it to God.Carolyn shared that it is in God's hands and she is at peace. She would be a great mother to Haiden and her family. I am at peace, and will see her again.Anybody with information regarding Shonda's case can contact the Palo Pinto Sheriffs Department by calling 940-659-2085, or Texas Crime Stoppers by dialing 1-800-252-TIPS (8477) Anyone who can provide information that leads to the arrest of this person/person is eligible for a cash reward.
