SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. — New information shows police have executed a warrant in regard to a missing North Carolina woman.
Allisha Watts, 39, has been missing since July 16 in Charlotte.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department searched the property of James Dunmore, Watts' boyfriend who family members said she was with before her disappearance.
Community members continue to come together in hopes their neighbor will return.
Neighbors, friends and family held a vigil for Watts on Tuesday night.
Green balloons can be found throughout the West Southern Pines neighborhood because that is Watts' favorite color.
Local residents shared their feelings about Watts.
“Everybody looks out for one another here,” Paul Covington said.
Covington has lived in this section of Southern Pines for most of his life.
The 58-year-old said he had light-hearted, friendly conversations with Watts often at the neighborhood restaurant. Covington said the two would sit and talk on the front porch of the Westside Cafe any time they ran into one another.
“She’s a great-hearted person. If she could do something for you, she would do something for you,” Covington said.
Ever since she disappeared, police investigators from Charlotte, Anson County and now Southern Pines are looking for clues.
“It’s destroying a lot of people that know her,” Covington said.
The uneasiness isn’t sitting well with others who described Watts as a kind soul.
Cafe owner John Ingram called her a breath of fresh air.
“She was good to everybody. She didn’t ever meet a stranger. I have known her since she was 13-14 years old,” Ingram said.
Shared heartache is abundant among the townspeople.
“I wish she’d just come home, and we could find her somewhere, and just let her be here with us so we could have some kind of closure,” Covington said.
Folks like Covington aren’t losing faith … but they are scared with every passing moment they do not see her smiling face. When I see the green balloons all I see is her face,” Covington said. “We miss her.”
Sarah Rae owns a salon down the road where vigils have been held. She said any time a customer comes into her shop lately all they can talk about is Watts. Rae said Watts is a helper and always has been.
“The way that she carries herself, she has been very mature for her age. The way that she carries has been amazing. We can count on her for anything. If she said she was going to do something, she is going to do it,” Rae said.
Community members and family are encouraging the use of the #FindAllishaWatts on social media to spread the word of her disappearance in hopes they can somehow bring her home.