Residents of Eden Park, and a contingent of concerned people from Eldorado Park, came together on March 15 in Eden Park, to launch a search and awareness campaign regarding the missing Eden Park resident, Laventia Petersen.
At the time of the search, Laventia had been missing for a period of three months.
MMC for Community Development Clr Margaret Sheron Arnolds, joined the search, and helped in organising the larger search effort.
The search commenced at around 8am from the Eden Park SAPS.
During the days operation, flyers were handed out across Eden Park, and people asked if they knew anything. Task teams followed up on the leads coming from Germiston.
Laventia was last seen on November 29, 2019.
According to Laventia’s adoptive parents, Tasha and Sammy Titus, it was a terrible experience the week when Laventia was reported missing.
“I couldn’t even think,” said Tasha.
According to initial rumors heard by the family, she was last seen at the bottom of the street they live in.
Later, while following the search with police, reports came out to the family that she was last seen in Germiston.
As a family, they continued following up on the leads, but were unable to find any leads.
“You could see from the manner that people were looking at us they knew something,” said Sammy, when he spoke about how no one wanted to help them.
“They just kept repeating they did not see her.”
Since then no new leads have been found.
With Laventia missing for three months, the family is very hurt.
“I wouldn’t say we have given up hope,” said Sammy, in regards to the police not being able to find her.
“What made it very hard was that it was Christmas time, and she was not with us.”
The family thanked those who came out on the day, saying that they are glad people still care about finding Laventia.
Other parties involved in the search was the local police, LDAC team Edos, the Yellow Ribbon Foundation and the Get Up Women Foundation.
If you have any information about the whereabouts of Laventia Petersen, please call Eden Park SAPS 011 439 1806.
