Prayer vigil for missing Raymore woman an opportunity to ‘raise awareness’

One month has passed since members of Jessica Runions’ family last saw the 21-year-old.

Runions disappeared after leaving a gathering Sept. 8 in south Kansas City with Kylr Yust.

Three days after Runions disappeared, Yust, 28, was arrested and charged with burning her 2012 black Chevrolet Equinox, which authorities found in the early morning hours of Sept. 10.

He is not charged in the disappearance of Runions.

Family, friends and supporters gathered Saturday night at Hickman Mills Community Christian Church in south Kansas City for a prayer vigil and balloon release in honor of the missing Raymore woman.

Close to 100 people prayed, sang hymns and offered help to post fliers of Runions’ image. The support was heartwarming, said Runions’ grandmother Linda Runions.

“They keep us going,” Linda Runions said of the crowd. “The prayers and the support keep us standing up,”

Linda Runions said the last month has been as tough as one would imagine. The search for Jessica, she said, has been painstaking. She has taken a simple emotional approach in her granddaughter’s disappearance

“You cope day to day,” Linda Runions said. “Just take one day at a time.”

The vigil was also a fundraiser to help aid in the search. Organizers sold T-shirts with Jessica’s image on it, bracelets and car decals.

Keeping Runions’ disappearance in the forefront of people’s minds is crucial, said Runion’s cousin, Tiffanie Sims.

“We just want to raise awareness that Jessica is still missing,” Sims said.

Sims urged people to check any property that they have not visited recently.

“Please go check it to see if you find anything out of the ordinary,” she said.

Anyone with information should call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (816-474-8477).

This story was originally published October 8, 2016 at 8:57 PM with the headline "Prayer vigil for missing Raymore woman an opportunity to ‘raise awareness’."