SAFFORD — The first of two candlelight vigils for Liberty Salazar was conducted Saturday at the Graham County Chamber of Commerce.
Salazar, 21, who has been diagnosed as autistic with epilepsy, was last seen near her family’s mailbox at her home near Cactus Ranch Road and U.S. Highway 191 on Jan. 23.
Salazar’s mother, Scarlet Donaldson, told the almost two-dozen in attendance that her daughter is proud of her indigenous heritage, and she thanked the crowd for their support.
“Some of you have asked us some questions: ‘How can you handle this? How are you not falling apart? How are you functioning? How do you live without knowing where your daughter is?’ My answer is quite simple — through faith, hope and perseverance,” Donaldson said.
Featured speakers included Salazar’s occupational therapist Tara Armstrong, who talked about Salazar’s difficulty in differentiating between lies and the truth; IT specialist Jared Wallace, who spoke about the need for internet safety; and Shannon Brown, a paralegal who spoke on the importance of guardianship for adults with special needs.
Also speaking were San Carlos Police Detectives Clifton Duncan and Ignacio Sneezy. Duncan said the Bureau of Indian Affairs is sending an investigative unit to help.
“They’re coming down next week so, of course, I’m going to introduce them to the family and other officers and law enforcement here. So that way they can share information and go forward with that,” Clifton said.
When Salazar was last seen, she was Salazar was wearing black, pointy-toed cowboy boots; a Puma hoodie; a plaid shirt; blue jeans; and a pink wrist watch.
Anyone with information about Salazar is asked to call Graham County Sheriff’s Office at 928-428-3141. A second vigil is planned for Thursday, March 9, at 5 p.m. at the Chamber building.
