What is being described by authorities as a “missing person case” had both local and state law enforcement agencies searching a wooded area in New Hope until midnight Wednesday.
Manuel Vasquez, who lives at 155 Windchase Drive in New Hope, has not been seen or heard from since June 24.
Investigators with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department began working the case July 13.
On Tuesday, county investigators went to the Windchase Drive home to continue the investigation. Agents with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation came, too.
On Wednesday, the agencies went back to the residence and subsequently found an unconscious woman. She was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle and law enforcement began searching the area.
WTVA, a TV station based in Tupelo, reported the woman was Manuel Vasquez’s mother-in-law.
But authorities are being tight-lipped about specifics.
Lowndes County Sheriff Mike Arledge did not return numerous phone calls for comment Wednesday afternoon or this morning. A spokesperson with LCSD told The Dispatch at 4 p.m. Wednesday the agency was not releasing any information.
Warren Strain, spokesperson with MBI, confirmed his agency sent a crime unit to the Windchase Drive residence but declined to comment further.
Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant was at the scene but declined to comment on the record.
The home at 155 Windchase Drive is owned by Manuel and Christina Vasquez, according to Lowndes County public records. It was roped off with police tape throughout Wednesday afternoon and deep into the evening.
A neighbor told The Dispatch this morning the tape has since been taken down.
John Young, who lives on Windchase Drive, said he met Manuel Vaszqez once. Vasquez seemed nice and the family kept to themselves.
“They were good neighbors as far as I know,” Young said.
Timothy Thomson, who lives across the street from the Vasquez home, said authorities have been at the house on and off for the last couple of days. Thomson said he saw officers from the Mississippi Highway Patrol and the Mississippi branch of the Department of Homeland Security at the residence.
“This is a nice, quiet neighborhood until a couple of days ago,” Thomson said.
Thomson didn’t know the Vasquez family but said they kept to themselves and kept their property nice. He told authorities from the sheriff’s office he had never noticed anything strange going on at the house.
“It’s strange,” he said. “We’re not used to this kind of thing happening here. It’s been a very quiet, safe neighborhood. I still think it is.”
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