What happened to Andrea Knabel? Search efforts continue four years after Louisville woman went missing
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY: Four years have passed since a mother from Louisville, Kentucky, vanished and her family still remains resolute in their hope for her return.
On Saturday, August 12, close relatives and friends of Andrea Michelle Knabel congregated at the intersection of Hess Lane and Pindell Avenue to distribute updated flyers about her unexplained absence as reported by WDRB.
Knabel was last observed during the early hours of August 13, 2019, near her sister's residence at Fincastle Road in the Audubon Park vicinity. Preceding her disappearance, Knabel dedicated her efforts to locating other missing individuals.
While various tips have been received about her location since then, the emotional toll of her vanishing has profoundly impacted her family, as there has been none of the information has proved fruitful.
"When someone says they have her that is different than we may have seen her," said Mike Knabel, her father. "They had her there presently. There have been several of those, but they simply disappear into thin air like so many others have."
Devoted mother Andrea went missing at 37 years of age
Andrea, aged 37 at the time of her disappearance, was a devoted mother of two who went missing under mysterious circumstances.
Known for her active participation in Missing In America, an organization dedicated to locating missing individuals in the Louisville area, Andrea was admired for her compassionate nature and willingness to assist others.
She embraced her roles as a loving daughter, sister, mother, and friend with great dedication.
Prior to her disappearance, Andrea faced a series of challenges. Following her job loss at Humana, she was involved in a hit-and-run accident that left her without a vehicle.
Despite these setbacks, she remained resilient, maintaining her home and undertaking various jobs. At the onset of the summer in 2019, she moved in with her mother Cheryl due to ongoing renovations at her mother's home.
Andrea left family gathering
On a fateful day, Andrea was last seen between the night of August 12 and the early hours of August 13, 2019. An emotionally charged dinner conversation with family members left her visibly upset, prompting her to leave the gathering.
She later spent time with her nephew and her sister's fiance, Ethan, seeking medical attention for a face rash. After a hospital visit, she returned to her mother's house but was unable to enter due to a lack of keys.
Seeking refuge with her sister Erin, Andrea shared her distress over the familial dispute. Ultimately, she returned to her mother's house as Erin refused to let her stay over.
She reportedly reached the house by 1.54 am based on her cellphone data. Her cell phone activity indicated her presence near her mother's house around 3.51 am, after which she vanished.
Despite extensive efforts, including media coverage and a docu-series called 'Finding Andrea', her case remains unsolved. Alleged sightings were reported in Indiana, and the discovery of a suspicious vehicle raised concerns about her potential involvement in human trafficking.
Andrea was last seen wearing a light-colored tank top, white shorts, and light-colored Nike shoes. Andrea is described as approximately 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) tall, weighing around 180 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes, possibly with scarring on her face.
As of now, her family and advocates continue to seek answers, and a $10,000 reward is being offered for information about her whereabouts.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Louisville Metro Police Department's Missing Persons Division at 502-574-7120.