Search for Mary Alice

Officials continue to search for a missing foothills woman and hope a $5,000 reward will lead to new information.Kim Petersen, executive director of the Carole Sund/Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation said Thursday that the family of Mary Alice Helm, missing since January, wants answers."After speaking with the family we decided to post the reward for information leading to (Helm's) safe return," Petersen said. "It's been nearly three months of searching. She just vanished."Helm, 44, a mother of two, was last seen in the area of Kearsage Mill Court near the Drum Forebay exit of Interstate 80, just east of Colfax on Jan. 16. She has not been seen or heard from since.Officials said Helm has family and friends in the Sacramento area, but has not contacted them since Jan. 14. Helm is dependent on medication for a health condition and did not leave the home she was visiting with any of her medicine, officials said.Since her disappearance law enforcement has had little to no clues, but do not suspect foul play, said Dena Erwin, spokeswoman for the Placer County Sheriff's Department."(Helm) liked to go on walks and in January it was very cold," Erwin said. "She left her purse at the home of a friend where she was staying."Helm's family hopes that the reward will lead to new information, which could help locate Helm. This is the very reason the Sund/Carrington foundation was formed.Petersen said the foundation's goal is to return missing persons to their families and get violent criminals off the street as well as provide support for victims' families.Helm is the youngest of five children. Four generations of her family made a plea Thursday to the media at a press conference at the Placer County Sheriff's Office in Auburn. "They truly don't know what's happened to her," Petersen said. "We are encouraging people in the Alta area to search around their homes. The family is desperate for answers."It was one family's search for loved ones and answers that led to the forming of the Sund/Carrington foundation.In February 1999, Carole and Juli Sund and Silvina Pelosso disappeared while on a sightseeing trip to Yosemite National Park. Their families established a reward for information. They believe that it was the reward money, which prompted tips that ultimately led law enforcement to the killer, Cary Stayner.The victims' families turned their tragedy into hope for others, Petersen said.Helm is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighing about 160 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. She may have been wearing a brown suede jacket with a green collar and white tennis shoes with pink trim on the soles.Anyone who may have seen or had contact with Helm is asked to contact the Placer County Sheriff's Department at (530) 889-7800.The Journal's Penne Usher can be reached at penne@goldcountrymedia.com.MissingName: Mary Alice HelmAge: 44Height: 5 feet 4 inchesWeight: About 160 poundsHair: BrownEyes: Brown