COLUMBIA (WACH) - Fifteen-year-old Gabbiee Swainson has been missing for almost a week. There is now a reward offered in the case and billboards with Gabbiee's picture can be seen in the Midlands.
The community along with the Richland County Sheriff's Department, Federal Law Enforcement and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children are all searching for the missing teen who would have started her sophomore year in high school this week.
Sheriff Leon Lott announced Friday that there is a $6,000 reward for anyone who can provide information leading to locating Gabbiee or the arrest of anyone responsible for her disappearance. The money comes from the generosity of an anonymous community member who donated $2,5000 toward the reward, which was matched by the Sheriff's Department. The additional $1,000 is what is offered by CrimeStoppers.
Lott also says that Grace Outdoors and Lamar Advertising have agreed to run Gabbiee's picture on their digital billboard space across the Midlands.
Elvia Swainson last saw her daughter early Saturday morning when she left her house in South East Columbia to go to work for a few hours, by the time she returned Gabby was gone.
The Richland County Sheriff's Department reports that Gabbiee went missing between 3 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 18.
Elvia Swainson is not giving up hope. She has hired a private investigator to assist in the search.
Anyone with information about Gabbiee is asked to please contact Crimestoppers at 1-888-CrimeSC.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWACH