The recent discovery of the body of a missing Jacksonville resident, Melody Evans, in a creek in the Peek Hill Community has awakened some to the plight of another missing woman. The family of Carla Cook Fuqua says they have not seen her since Oct. 29 of last year, and they are looking for answers.

Carla’s mother, Darlene Cook, says that the discovery of the body of Melody Evans was difficult to hear. “It’s really been an emotional week for me,” said Cook.

Carla’s aunt, Phyllis Cook, says that no matter what people are saying about Carla, she deserves to be found.

“She was going through the drug court. Her dad died, her husband got killed, and she had gotten on meth,” said Phyllis.

Carla was nearing the completion of her mandated drug court when she went missing last October.

“She was on level four of the drug court, and doing great,” said Phyllis. Since then, there have been no verifiable sightings of Carla and Piedmont police say they have conducted more than 70 interviews with assistance from over a dozen other state and federal agencies, searched 20 locations and assisted in giving polygraph examinations but have not been able to locate the missing 28-year-old mother.

Texas Equusearch has been given permission from the Piedmont Police Department to begin a search. As of Monday the search and rescue organization has not contacted the Piedmont Police to say when or where its search will begin. The non-profit search and rescue group has taken part in several high-profile cases including the search for the Mountain Brook resident Natalie Holloway.

Carla’s drivers license was discovered on Greenwood Road in Piedmont last week by an employee with the county highway department. Piedmont Police investigator Sergeant Carolyn Durham says that the discovery of the license leaves much to consider.

“We have not been able to make any conclusions regarding how the license got there, or how long it could have been there,” said Durham, who added that as time goes on the department continues to speak with more people and perform an increasing number of searches in the hunt for Carla.

Carla’s car was found not long after her disappearance, says Carla’s mother Darlene, in the possession of a friend. The vehicle was later returned to Darlene. And although her mother has stated she suspects Carla has returned to her Piedmont home, Darlene says that she, nor any other family member has actually seen Carla since that day in October.

There has been much speculation as to what could have happened to Carla. Some have said she ran to avoid jail-time. Carla is currently listed on the Cherokee County Sheriff’s website for a felony (Failure to appear on unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance) and for a misdemeanor charge of failure to pay on negotiating a worthless negotiable instrument, but Carla’s aunt Phyllis says that both charges came after she went missing. The Journal has been able to verify that the warrants were served after Carla disappeared.

Phyllis Cook fears the worst for Carla. She said that if and when Texas Equusearch begins its search in the heavily wooded areas of Piedmont, they’ll find what they’re looking for but it may be too late.

“It’s with all my gut feelings that they’re going to find her dead,” she said.

Piedmont Police say they conducted a search of the wooded area that Carla was believed to have been last seen near, but found only animal carcasses. The police say they have conducted interviews with the person who allegedly dropped Carla off, but cannot discuss the details while the investigation remains open. The department says they will continue to follow leads and conduct interviews until Carla is found.

Anyone with information at to the whereabouts of Carla Cook Fuqua is asked to contact the Piedmont Police at 256-447-9091 or at crimetips@piedmontcity.org or the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office at 256-927-3365.