Monday marks one year since Lynn Rickard went missing and on the anniversary, her daughter Laura spoke publicly about her mother's disappearance for the first time.
Authorities say Lynn Rickard walked away from her Kansasville home in Racine County on the morning of June 25, 2017. She left without her oxygen tank and authorities believed she also didn't have any clothes or shoes.
The day she went missing went by in a blur for her daughter Laura.
"It's just been very, very difficult losing your best friend," she said.
Laura says she used to talk to her mom on the phone every day but the last year without her has been devastating for their family.
"A lot of sleepless nights," she said. "Coming out here is very, very difficult. Of course being there for each other is the main thing."
Very few leads have come in regarding Lynn's disappearance. The Racine County Sheriff's Office and more than a dozen other nearby agencies used drones and thermal imaging cameras in the days that followed her disappearance, but found few clues.
They did find footprints they believed belonged to Lynn, and a witness came forward later saying they saw Lynn in the area.
The Racine County Sheriff's Office launched another search in November once the leaves fell, bringing in cadaver dogs from Madison, but still found nothing.
"The resources have pretty much been exhausted," said Laura.
A spokesman from the sheriff's office said on Monday that they do have additional searches planned in the future and will bring back the cadaver dogs they used in November.
"I'm always hopeful," said Laura. "I still have a lot of hope that she's alive and well and maybe with somebody."
Laura says they are really hoping for information from the public. Even the smallest detail could help.
"I'm broken," she said. "We need her back."
Laura says her mother was put on a new medication shortly before she went missing that negatively affected her mental state.
The family is still offering a $50,000 reward for information that leads to her return. The Racine County Sheriff has said he doesn't suspect foul play.
If you have information about Lynn Rickard's disappearance, you're asked to call the Racine County Sheriff's Office at 262-886-2300.
