Katharina Buczek
According to the Westbrook family, the man seen with Laynee in the time before her disappearance reportedly took her and her dog, Precious, to a campground where he had been living.
The man claimed that later, during the early morning hours, he dropped Laynee off just a few blocks away from her motel.
What happened to the 41-year-old and her dog afterward has remained a puzzling mystery for over two years.
But, the Westbrook family has not stopped searching for Laynee. Immediately after her disappearance, they began coordinating search parties and following up on tips.
Laynee’s loved ones also held a monthly candle vigil during the first year of the investigation in hopes of gaining new information and keeping her case in the limelight.
“Every time we hold a vigil, something new is discovered. There’s always a new person to talk to or a new perspective on things,” Emily said.
The Anacortes police have not stopped investigating Laynee’s case, either. Their most recent effort included the excavation of an area in Skagit County last July– a major development that was only made possible by information brought forward by community members.
“There are not a lot of factors that are in our favor with this case,” explained Anacortes Police Chief Dave Floyd.
“The ones that we have could be extremely key pieces when we get to the point that those factors come into play. For now, releasing those pieces could jeopardize the case as it stands. We understand and share in the frustration regarding this case felt by Laynee’s loved ones and her community.”
In the meantime, the Westbrook family has continued spreading awareness about Laynee’s case via a Facebook page entitled “Justice for Laynee” while holding on to hope and urging anyone with information to come forward.
“We are not giving up. We are not going to stop, and she deserves it,” Emily said.
