Vigil held for missing Cape woman
#BringLaurenHome
Lauren Dumolo loved going to Four Freedoms Park. It was her place to get close to nature and clear her mind.
On Saturday, her friends and family gathered there without her presence for a remembrance and vigil as they wait — still — for answers two years after she was reported missing.
Lindsey Smith, Dumolo’s older sister, said she doesn’t want to give up hope nor does she want Lauren’s disappearance, forgotten.
“There needs to be closure. We are all desperate for answers. We almost thought they found human remains of Lauren and they weren’t.” Smith said. “I felt all these emotions like this was the answer we wanted and suddenly we were back at square one.”
Cassie Carey, Dumolo’s younger sister, was the last person to speak with he. She didn’t know her world would be upended the next morning.
“The last two years have been a roller coaster and a lot of heartache and high moments where we thought we would get a conclusion and then it gets dropped again,” Carey said.
Among those who came was Joe Fanciulli, investigation director for Missing America Volunteer Group, who was asked by Dumolo’s family if they could help.
“We’re doing what we can. There are things we can do that the authorities can’t and vice-versa. We’ve identified some fringe people around her who could be connected,” Fanciulli said. “We give the information to law enforcement. We’ve done searching in areas where other bodies may have been dumped or where sexual predators live.”
People jammed under a pavilion near the water, wearing Lauren pink ribbons and pink wristbands; pink was Lauren’s favorite color. Don Neace in his opening prayer said as the family’s brokenness spread, so did that of the community.
“Lauren never opened the door to my church, but I feel she is one of my church members. We pray for her and lift up her name and we will not quit until we bring Lauren home,” Neace said. “Somebody knows something. It could be the tiniest piece of information that could unlock the mystery of where Lauren is.”
Suzanne Meerheim, Dumolo’s aunt, gave a tearful speech on her niece on how she wanted to make a fresh start and how the disappearance has changed her family forever.
“She needed to get out of a bad situation. She wanted a better life. Lauren has always had love, hope and determination and was not raised in an abundance of wealth,” Meerheim said. “She was taught to set goals for herself and do her best.”
Carey said she has a lot of trauma attached to the park, but understood why Lauren started her day by coming to Four Freedoms and understands the way she saw the world.
“This is where she would find herself and ground herself. I know it’s stormy, but it’s what gives us the wonderful sunsets and sunrises, which is why she chose this place. She was one with nature,” Carey said. “Lauren believed in the power of love and light. For a long time, I didn’t understand it and laughed at it. Over the last two years, I do believe in all of it.”
Lauren was last seen at her downtown Cape Coral home in June 2020. The last phone call she had was with her sister Cassie on June 18, 2020 around 6:30 p.m. She had also entered a convenience store to apply for a job.
The next day, Dumolo’s purse was found at Four Freedom’s Park and her cell phone was still in her apartment. Since then, she has been classified as an endangered missing person.
Since that time, law enforcement, family members and even strangers with huge hearts have continued the search for Lauren.
The goal of the vigil, which was held despite rainy conditions, was to remind the community that Lauren is still missing and the public’s help is needed to help find her, as well as anyone who may have information regarding her disappearance.
Anyone with information on Dumolo’s disappearance is asked to call the Cape Coral Police at 574-3223 or, to remain anonymous, SWFL Crime Stoppers at (800) 780-8477, which is offering a reward of up to $8,000.