CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dozens of family, friends and activists drove from Moore County to hold a press conference Wednesday in front of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department headquarters.

They expressed concern with the handling of the Allisha Watts case.

Watts was last seen leaving a Charlotte home on July 16, and two days later her car was found in Anson County, according to CMPD. Watts is still missing and police are searching for her, CMPD says.

What You Need To Know

  •  Allisha Watts was last seen July 16, according to CMPD

  •  CMPD says Watts was headed back to Moore County, and her car was found two days later

  •  Family and friends are pushing CMPD to release more information as the case enters its 10th day

“We’re standing here today as activists, civil rights activists, family and friends who just want answers. Who just want to know, where is Allisha Watts?” said Candace Brewer at the start of the press conference.

She was one of many activists, friends and family to question the CMPD’s handling of the case, saying it took too long to receive media attention and criticized the lack of public information.

“We just need answers,” cried one friend, Learen Blue, during the press conference. “Where is Allisha, where is Allisha? They’re not telling us anything. And we want everybody to know that Allisha, she’s not just some missing person. She’s an important person to all of us.” 

Many of the dozens at the press conference took a chartered bus from Moore County to speak in front of CMPD headquarters. No representatives from the police department attended the conference. But police released a statement on Wednesday. 

“Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Missing Person Unit continue to conduct an investigation into the disappearance of 39-year-old Allisha Dene Watts. This is an active and ongoing investigation. Detectives are following all leads and using all available resources to locate Ms. Watts. Detectives have been in communication with immediate family members of Ms. Watts and their designee to provide updates and request relevant information. We continue to ask for the public's assistance in this investigation. Anyone with information on Watts’ whereabouts is asked to call 9-1-1 immediately,” according to the statement. 

When Watts was last seen July 16, police said they think she was headed to Moore County. Wednesday, one of her friends said she never arrived, which raised suspicion. 

“She didn’t show up at one of the events we were having, and we know that’s totally out of character for her,” said Arthur Eugene Mason, a friend from the American Legion post in the area.

Mason said he knows Watts would have never missed Sunday bingo. So, 10 days after her disappearance, he made the bus ride from Moore County to be at the press conference and speak to the crowd.

“The biggest reason is Allisha’s missing, and she’s a very dear person to me and the community we reside in,” Mason added.

During the press conference, friends and family said more should be done for Watts, who they described as a good person, mentor and active member of the community.

“We can’t lose anybody, especially one that does the work like that,” Mason said about his friend.

He and others pledged they would begin their own searches for Watts and continue holding press conferences until more information is released.