Candlelight vigil held for missing Lynn mom

LYNN – Leeanne Redden turned 38 years old Tuesday but her family and friends celebrated without her because she is still missing after five months.”We’re here to celebrate her birthday and to celebrate her life,” said Redden’s mother Donna Pleasant.Nearly 50 friends and family members gathered on The Commons to light candles, say a prayer, sing Happy Birthday and release balloons in Redden’s honor.Redden disappeared April 15. Her uncle, Bob Redden, said there have been a few leads but nothing concrete since that date. He said it’s tough to watch his sister struggle with her loss.”I call her every day or so to see if anything new has popped up,” he said.He’s concerned that the police are not taking his niece’s disappearance seriously because she has a past.”She has a rap sheet and maybe they think it’s a waste of time, but I don’t think they’ve done enough,” he said.Pleasant is sanguine when it comes to her daughter but she is also blunt. Like her brother she does not hide the fact that her daughter has been battling addiction since she was 14. But she will also tell you that despite past troubles Redden has never disappeared for this length of time without calling.Leeanne Redden’s brother, Dwight Pleasant, agrees it’s odd. Due to a 16-year age difference, Dwight Pleasant admits he has no truly fond memories of his older sister.”I never really knew her much because she was already off doing what she does,” he said. “I do love my sister though and I do want her home. She has never disappeared like this. I know her habits and this isn’t right.”Unlike her brother Amy Robinson remembers her sister as vivacious, energetic and never dull, and she misses that girl.”We’ve had our moments when she was going down the wrong path and I didn’t follow but we still have that sisterly bond,” she said.Like his brother-in-law Domingo Urena believes the police are not doing enough to find his daughter. He, along with Donna Pleasant believe Leeanne Redden is being held against her will somewhere.”You were always guaranteed to see her on her birthday,” Robinson said and her brother agreed. “She never, ever, ever missed her birthday.”Or a chance for their mother to take care of her, Dwight Pleasant added.While she laments the fact that the police have not turned up any solid evidence in regards to her daughter’s whereabouts, Donna Pleasant has not given up hope.”I get up in the morning and say a prayer for her, I go to bed at night and say a prayer for her,” she said. “My faith keeps me going.”So does handing out flyers, maintaining a Facebook page, “Team Find Leeanne,” and keeping her daughters story alive.Urena said he too thinks of his daughter every day.”There is not a lot I can do, I have three other children and nine grandchildren,” he said. “But I think about her every day. I wonder is she okay, is she suffering, I have a lot of anger ? she’s my daughter.”Robinson said it’s the not knowing that is the most frustrating.”It’s the most unnerving thing anyone could ever experience and no one should have to,” she said. “I’d rather know good or bad then at least we’d have closure or we’d figure out how to fix it.”Anyone who has any information about Redden’s whereabouts are asked to call the police.