BY ANNIE HOLLER
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Kentucky State Police are searching for Heather Mollett, a 36-year-old Inez woman who has not had direct contact with her family since leaving home June 25 for a court hearing in Louisa.
Mollett’s mother, Rhonda Salmons, contacted KSP Post 9 on June 29 and filed an official missing person report July 13, according to Trooper M. Coleman. Police entered Mollett into the National Crime Information Center database.
Salmons told the Mountain Citizen that Mollett left her Blacklog Road home around 6 a.m. June 25. Because her vehicle had broken down about two months earlier, a male friend drove her to the hearing. Salmons said court officials confirmed that Mollett appeared in court.
Mollett did not return home.
Salmons said the friend later told her that he and Mollett went to her disabled vehicle after court and tried unsuccessfully to repair it. He said Mollett became angry and damaged the car before he drove her to another location and dropped her off.
The man said he had not heard from Mollett since, according to Salmons.
After filing the missing person report, Salmons accompanied a state trooper to the disabled vehicle. She said she saw no damage to its exterior but spotted what appeared to be Mollett’s damaged cellphone inside.
“She’s not the type of person to go anywhere without her phone,” Salmons said. “She hasn’t been back home either, and everything she owns is here. Clothing, personal items, everything that meant anything to her is here.”
Salmons said a new Facebook profile bearing her daughter’s name appeared shortly after Mollett disappeared. She exchanged messages with the account but became suspicious when the person failed to correctly answer questions her daughter would know.
Salmons also reported receiving what she considered a threatening text from an unfamiliar number after police began contacting people who might know where Mollett was.
“None of this makes sense,” Salmons said. “So many red flags and too few answers.”
People have reported possible sightings of Mollett, Salmons said, but those remain unsubstantiated. The most recent tip involved a possible sighting in Johnson County.
“My daughter has never stayed away from home like this and has always communicated with me so that I know she’s okay,” Salmons said. “All I want is to know she’s safe and that she’s not sick or injured.”
Coleman said Mollett will remain listed as missing until investigators confirm she is safe and not being held against her will.
“There have been cases where people walk away from family and want no contact, and as adults, that’s their right,” Coleman said. “But unless they themselves prove that to be the case, we have to investigate and search for them the same as we do any other missing person’s report.”
Coleman said multiple troopers and a detective are working the case.
Mollett is 5 feet, 2 inches tall and weighs approximately 145 pounds. She has blue eyes and shoulder-length blondish-brown hair. Her tattoos include a full-sleeve rose design on one arm, a skull on the back of her neck, and another tattoo on the top of her foot.
Anyone who has seen Mollett since June 25 or has information about her location should contact KSP Post 9 in Pikeville at 606-433-7711. Callers may remain anonymous.
“The smallest details that seem unimportant may be just what is needed to locate someone who is missing,” Coleman said.