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Jayme Closs renews interest in 22-year-old missing person case

Posted at 8:57 PM, Jan 17, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-17 21:57:49-05

Jayme Closs' safe return home has renewed hope for families still searching for their missing kids, siblings and loved ones.

"Jayme was very strong, and I know my sister is as strong," said Lesley Small, whose sister Sara went missing 22 years ago.

Sara Bushland disappeared from Spooner, Wisconsin at age 15.

"She was always just a spit fire," said Small. "She always just was making people laugh. She always took care of everybody. She just didn't ever bring much attention to herself or her well-being."

Sara was last seen getting off her school bus on April 3, 1996, but Jayme's story gives her family hope that she too, could be found alive.

"I just miss her so much and I just wish that we could have memories that were good and memories that were more recent," said Small.

Last year, Rob Ebben wrote a book about Sara's disappearance in hopes of raising awareness of her case, but it wasn't enough. Ebben and Small are now teaming up to work on a documentary called "Sara was here" to reach even more people.

Small believes someone knows something about her sister's case and hopes the film will encourage that person to come forward.

"It's time to do what's right," she said. "Life is too short to think that this is ok. They just need to do what's right."

Small wants everyone to recognize her sister's face the way they recognized Jayme's.