Family of missing Ashland woman Lynn Jackenheimer goes to North Carolina to help search

ASHLAND, Ohio - Lynn Jackenheimer's family members and friends are headed to North Carolina to do their own search for the 33-year-old mother of two.

They said they can no longer just sit around and wait.

"We feel like we need to help. We need to be out there looking for her," said friend Naomi Jackson.

Jackenheimer was last heard from on the morning of the Fourth of July.

Deputies said she went on vacation to Nags Head, N.C. with ex-boyfriend Nate Summerfield, her 13-year-old daughter and their 3-year-old son. Summerfield returned to Ashland on Sunday and dropped off the children at a family member's home.

Summerfield's brother called 911 and said Summerfield admitted to strangling Jackenheimer. Jackenheimer is still missing and so is Summerfield.

Deputies have been searching Dare County, N.C. for the missing mother and now the family is joining the effort. They are traveling more than 600 miles to help search for her.

"We have fliers and we are going to pass them out at gas stations, rest stops and restaurants. Just so we can be getting the word out and looking for her," said Jackson.

In Ashland, purple ribbons line the streets to raise awareness about domestic violence.

Jackenheimer had a protection order against ex-boyfriend Summerfield in 2009 after a violent incident. Friends and family told ONN's Cristin Severance, they have hope something bad didn't happen again.

"I hope she is still alive. I hope she is still out there. She is one of the strongest people I know so if anyone can still be out there, she would," said Jackson.

Another friend will spend the rest of the week searching in Virginia. Deputies said Summerfield spent the night in Richmond on the way home from North Carolina.

Meanwhile, there's been an outpouring of community support for the family and their trip to North Carolina.  Customers of the Beer Barrel drive-thru where Lynn works came in droves Wednesday evening to donate money for the family. T-shirts that were on sale for $10 were gone in 30 minutes.

"It's just awesome," Tasha Holland, Lynn's sister, said. "I can't even begin to thank everybody."

A reward for information leading to Jackenheimer has grown to $8,000. A fund is in the process of being set up at a local bank in Ashland.