"We're optimistic until we have reason not to be." - Mauldin Police On Missing Mother and Child

Mauldin Police have called on other agencies to expand the search for Amy Waldrep and her 10-month old daughter Penelope. Waldrep, 20, and her child were last seen in front of their home on 30 Woodhedge Court in Mauldin yesterday at around 11 a.m. with a white male, described as short in stature.

According to Detective Sergeant Jason Peterson, who is leading the investigation, agencies throughout the Southeast have been notified of Waldrep and her child’s absence, as has the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Peterson said Mauldin Police have four detectives working on the case full-time and all patrol officers are on alert for someone matching Waldrep’s description.

Police searched Waldrep’s computer this morning but it did not lead to any information that might explain her whereabouts. In the police report that was filed by her family, it was noted that a blue-ray player and camera were missing.

Waldrep’s last conversation was with her mother Elizabeth regarding an upcoming birthday of a friend. Waldrep was not believed to be having any difficulties in her relationships recently. She has also been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, but was not under the care of a physician.

Waldrep’s family has been in contact with the Victim’s Advocate for the Mauldin Police, Sherry Patterson.

Det. Peterson has been on the force since 1999 and could not remember a similar case in Mauldin where a person went missing without a trace. He said that any investigation of this type is started as if the worst case scenario has occurred. “Whenever there is a case of this magnitude, we really pull our resources together to try to achieve a positive outcome,” Peterson said.

Thus far, Peterson said, there have not been any substantive leads from the general public. "We're optimistic until we have reason not to be," he said.