A Wisconsin woman has gone missing in Denver, after sending eerie text messages to a friend that implied her boyfriend may try to harm her.
Erin Vandewiele's family says they haven't heard from her in months after she moved to Colorado with that man in early July.
Vandewiele is from Menomonie, Wis., about 30 minutes outside of Eau Claire. Most of her family still lives in that area, including her sister, Mandi Schmidt.
Schmidt says Thursday is Vandewiele's 41st birthday. Schmidt plans on leaving the lights on at her house, to tell her sister they are ready for her to come home.
"I'm hoping and praying she's still alive," said Schmidt.
Schmidt says her sister left with the man on July 5 and that no one in the family approved of the relationship.
A few days later, Vandewiele sent a text message to one of her friends that caused concern.
"I got more worried once I [saw] those text messages," said Schmidt.
The text said, "He's gonna kill me if I don't get away from him today." It was sent by Vandewiele to a friend on July 8.
The last time anyone heard from her was July 23.
"She always contacts somebody," said Schmidt. "Of course my brain automatically goes to the worst possible scenario."
The Denver Police Department posted a video on Facebook last week asking for the public's help in finding Vandewiele. Schmidt says they filed the missing persons report at the end of August.
Schmidt also said her sister's driver's license and social security card were found on a Denver bus.
Vandewiele's boyfriend was arrested on unrelated charges and brought back to western Wisconsin.
"I don't think she actually realizes how many people care and how much we care," said Schmidt.
Anyone with information about Vandewiele's disappearance is asked to call Denver Police at 720-913-7867.
Schmidt is also raising money through a Gofundme page so she can travel to Denver and pass out flyers and help look for her sister.
