Mom says search for college student who went missing while jogging is 'excruciating'

Mom says search for college student who went missing while jogging is 'excruciating'originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

As hundreds have rallied to search for 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts -- who went for a jog Wednesday evening in the rural town of Brooklyn, Iowa, and never returned -- her mother said she was on the cusp of new, exciting activities in her life.

While time passes, she said the uncertainty has been "excruciating."

Laura Calderwood, Tibbetts' mother, told ABC News there are "no words to describe how you feel when you don't know where or how your child is."

Tibbetts, who was the middle child in her family, was looking forward to her upcoming sophomore year at the University of Iowa and full of hope.

"She is just such an outgoing, fun, loving life, loving person," her mother said. "She was getting ready to move into her first apartment."

In this close-knit farming community of about 1,500 people, everyone knows everyone, Kriegel said. But the rural area makes the search difficult.

"We're surrounded by farm ground -- corn and soy beans. Right now the corn is probably eight, nine feet tall. The only way you can search it is basically walk down every other row," he said. "It's difficult. Even the planes flying over have a difficulty looking down in the corn rows."

Crews have searched every road, every ditch and every body of water near town, the sheriff said. On Friday authorities also conducted a large ground search of the areas around Brooklyn -- and at least 250 people came out to help.

In addition, a helicopter and a plane flew over the area, he said, and kayakers searched miles along the small rivers on both sides of town

Calderwood said her daughter's disappearance "completely upended the entire community." She said she can see the toll it's taking in their eyes.

She remains hopeful and praised the efforts of law enforcement.

The university said its "thoughts are with Mollie Tibbetts' family and friends."

"The University of Iowa is monitoring the situation and will offer support as needed," the school tweeted Friday.

Tibbetts is described as having long brown hair and brown eyes. She stands at 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs about 120 pounds.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Poweshiek County Sheriff's Office at 641-623-5679.