No sign of missing woman

Laverla R. Kistler
Laverla R. Kistler

Authorities are still searching for a missing woman who has ties to Moniteau County.

The whereabouts of Laverla Kistler are still unknown more than two weeks after she was last seen.

Her home is in Pisgah in Cooper County, but she has ties to Moniteau County, including a California mailing address and at least one family member who lives there.

To help with the search, a Facebook page called "Looking for Laverla" has been set up by her son Jim. He set up the page as a means to use social media to keep people searching.

Cooper County Sheriff Jerry Wolfe said there have been established sightings of the missing woman or her 2004 KIA Sedona. Following up on a couple of reported sightings turned out to be people nothing like her. The search continues, but so far, there is no indication of her present whereabouts.

"We can't ignore anything that is reported," Wolfe said. "We are trying to run down each report. Our concern is that we've had no sighting of her, the vehicle or the dog. Because of this, we can't rule anything out."

Wolfe said that without any leads, all that can really be done is to expand the search area outward with information to other jurisdictions.

Kistler is described as a 77-year-old woman who is 5 feet, 6 inches tall, and weighs about 155 pounds. She has white hair and wears glasses most of the time. She has a scar on her nose.

Kistler is known to have driven from her home on the east edge of Cooper County to California, where she was seen at Orscheln's and Cal's Thriftway, two of her regular stops. Where she went from there is unknown, although there was one reported, but as yet unverified, sighting on June 13 in California.

Kister's son Jim has been in on the search since shortly after she was last seen. His efforts have led to the issuing of a flyer with her photo, a photo of a Silver Kia Sedona minivan, similar to the missing one. The Missouri license number is DD1-B0Z.

Anyone who might have information as to her whereabouts is urged to contact the Cooper County Sheriff's Office at 660-882-2771.