Old Cape bridge to be site of vigil for toddler who vanished in 1965

Although 45 years have gone by, the family of Elizabeth Gill, a Cape Girardeau toddler who vanished in 1965, hasn't given up searching for her.

They'll come together for a candlelight vigil Sunday at the site of the former Mississippi River bridge to mark the anniversary of the girl's disappearance. Elizabeth, just 2 years old, was last seen playing in the yard of her home on Lorimier Street on June 13, 1965.

"That first evening, it was like a nightmare," said Gill's sister, Martha Hamilton, who was 15 at the time of her sibling's disappearance. "It was a real close-knit neighborhood, and when she disappeared there were people out mowing their yards, but nobody saw anything."

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children A composite image of what Elizabeth Gill might look like today.

Police and more than 200 volunteers continued searching for Elizabeth Gill for several days, but they came up with few leads. According to Hamilton, their biggest lead was four Gypsy travelers who were staying at a motel behind their residence and selling purses door to door in their neighborhood.

"They were using various names and had different plates on their cars, although that's common with that type of group. But because of that, [police] could never trace them," Hamilton said.

Police and family members followed several small leads years after Elizabeth's disappearance, but leads dwindled and it became a cold case. Five years ago, though, the family learned about Gill's case being discussed on the Internet. This gave the family hope, Hamilton said, and they resumed their search by listing their sister on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Family members' DNA was also put in a CODIS database. The family has also used social networking and started a Facebook page dedicated to Gill's disappearance. The page has more than 1,500 members.

"Technology has given us an opportunity to get our information out there if Beth is still here and looking," Hamilton said. "I truly believe that if we're supposed to know or if we are supposed to find her that God will lead her to us."

The public is welcome to attend the vigil, which begins at 8:15 p.m. Per the organizers' request, individuals attending the event are asked to bring their own candle.

Brother David Migliorino, principal at Notre Dame Regional High School, will lead prayers for the vigil, which will end in a procession with an additional prayer session at Old St. Vincent's Church.

Hamilton said a number of state officials will be attending the evening's vigil, including Sen. Jason Crowell, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder and representatives from Sen. Claire McCaskill and Rep. Jo Ann Emerson's offices.

ehevern@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

150 S. Spanish St., Cape Girardeau, MO