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Columbus statue on Public Square vandalized second time

Benton man charged with rape

It&rsquo;s been 16 years since Phylicia Thomas went missing, believed to have been murdered and her body disposed of somewhere.
				And for every second, minute, hour, day, week, month of those 16 years, her mother, Pauline Bailey, has hoped and prayed that she be found so she can be given a proper burial.
				And if the persons responsible for this heinous act can be found and brought to justice, then &mdash; maybe &mdash; Pauline Bailey will be able to rest.
				In recent days, Pauline has been placing flyers everywhere she can, seeking information on what happened to her daughter on Feb. 11, 2004, and where her remains may be and who is responsible.
				Pauline knows that investigators have not forgotten Phylicia &mdash; but they need information to help them close this case.
				Last year, Pauline and Judy sat with me and reporter Ed Lewis at the Times Leader to discuss the case.
				Phylicia Thomas was 22 at the time of her disappearance.
				As Judy and Pauline talked to us about the case, they shared a resolve that they know who is responsible for Phylicia&rsquo;s death. They claim there were 17 people at the party where they allege Phylicia was brutally murdered and then carried out of the trailer in a bloody blanket and taken God knows where.
				Yet, they say, nobody has come forward to tell what they know.
				&ldquo;Why doesn&rsquo;t anybody care?&rdquo; a tearful Pauline asked.
				We didn&rsquo;t have an answer. But many people do care greatly about this case and want to see it solved. Pauline, 64, lives to find her daughter.
				She has established a GoFundMe page to accept donations that would pay for a giant billboard with Phylicia&rsquo;s picture and a plea for information.
				Ed Lewis and I have been with Pauline and Judy in this search for years. We have been there when cadaver search dogs have searched for Phylicia. We have watched them dig holes on the land near where the party was held where Phylicia reportedly was last seen. We have walked the woods with Judy and other volunteers, hoping to find some clues as to Phylicia&rsquo;s last days. We have interviewed many people who have tried to help.
				We have all waited for that &ldquo;break&rdquo; in this case.
				It really is difficult to understand why someone hasn&rsquo;t come forward with information. Judy and Pauline say 17 people were at that party in that trailer on that land, yet nobody has come forward.
				Pauline and Judy fear that Phylicia&rsquo;s killer(s) might still be out there. They are determined to find out who is responsible.
				Every February, on the anniversary of Phylicia&rsquo;s disappearance, a vigil is held on Patriot Square in Nanticoke. And each year, hope is renewed that Phylicia will be found and the vigils will end.
				At every vigil, Pauline has given an impassioned speech, asking anyone to come forward with information about her missing daughter.
				&ldquo;We love her and we will never forget her,&rdquo; Bailey has said at every vigil. &ldquo;And we will find her and we will say goodbye to her.
				Pauline mostly wants Phylicia to be found. She wants to bring her little girl home and give her that proper burial. Pauline wants to be able to visit her daughter&rsquo;s grave, to place flowers, to sit and talk to her.
				Pauline wants that &mdash; she needs that closure.
				And Phylicia deserves it.

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