Polk County Woman Missing Since May Now Considered Endangered

AUBURNDALE, FL — A Polk County woman last seen in May is now considered missing and endangered, authorities said in an update Wednesday.

Tonya Whipp, 38, of Auburndale, was reported missing on June 29, according to police. Authorities said she was last heard from between May 28 and June 1 and was last seen in Auburndale.

Whipp, who is white, is 5-feet 7-inches tall and has light brown hair, according to Auburndale police. A $4,000 cash reward is available for information leading to her return.

On July 26, Auburndale police and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement executed a search warrant at a mobile home park in the 700 block of Rose Street. While police said the warrant was connected to Whipp's case, they did not say if any evidence was collected.

Whipp was not found, police said.

Meanwhile, Polk County volunteers continue to search for the missing woman. Last weekend, many searched the Lake Blue area using boats and a drone, WTSP reported. Authorities have already used sonar to inspect the lake, the report said.

Family and friends held a vigil at Lake Blue Park in Winter Haven this week, according to reports. Many used the event to express hope and pray for Whipp's return.

Whipp's sister, Robin Klotzbier, said messages sent to Whipp through Facebook went unanswered until she sent a suspicious response, Klotzbier told Fox 13.

"She said, 'I'm okay. When I want to talk, I'll call you'. It didn't sound like her, but I respected what she said, and I just left it at that," Klotzbier told Fox 13. "Couple days I gave her, she still read it, and then I said, 'I'm getting worried now. I'm calling the cops'. And if I said that before, she would've been on the phone calling me."

Whipp's other sister, Donna Martin, pleaded with the public for help locating her. "The last month has been extremely difficult, and the days are getting more difficult. It's hard to think that we're looking for our sister," Martin told WTSP. "Please give us something so that we can get her back, and we can rest."

Anyone with information on Whipp's whereabouts should contact Detective Wall or Detective Seymour at 863-965-5555 or by email at cwall@auburndalefl.com or kseymour@auburndalefl.com.