$100K Reward For Tips On Whereabouts Of Williamson County Woman Missing 15 Years (Video)

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — County officials joined FBI agents at a press conference Thursday to announce a bolstered reward for information leading to the whereabouts of a Georgetown woman missing for 15 years.

Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody said the FBI has offered a reward of $50,000 for information on Rachel Cooke, last seen Jan. 10, 2002, as she left her parents' home in Georgetown for a morning run. She was on winter break from San Diego Mesa College in San Diego, Calif., when she vanished.

The FBI reward money brings the total to $100,000 for information that may help solve the cold case. Cooke's family has long offered $50,000 for tips in an attempt to gain closure as to the fate of their loved one.

Chody was joined by FBI agent John W. Scata in announcing the increased reward. The announcement was made Thursday morning at the same residential area where Cooke was last seen more than 15 years ago.

Authorities believe Rachel left her family’s residence at approximately 9:30 a.m. for her daily four-mile run, and was last seen walking towards her residence from approximately 200 yards away. Then 19 years old, Cooke was wearing a gray running outfit, green sports bra, Asics running shoes and a yellow Walkman with sports-style headphones.

At the time of her disappearance, Rachel’s height was 5’3” and she weighed 115 lbs. She is described as a Caucasian woman with blue/hazel eyes and blonde hair with high/low lights. She has two heart-
shaped cherries tattooed on her left foot near her pinky toe, multiple ear piercings and a navel piercing.

“As Williamson County Sheriff, I vow to utilize all the resources available and partnerships with my fellow law enforcement agencies to bring Rachel home,” Chody said. “We can only achieve this with your help. This is my promise and my plea.”

Scata added: “In partnership with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Rangers, the FBI is committed to doing everything we can to find Rachel Cooke. Some of our top investigators are involved with this effort, and all the resources of the FBI are at their disposal. We are hopeful the $50,000 reward may serve as a motivator for someone who has been reluctant to come forward in the past.”

Anyone with information into Cooke's whereabouts is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov or contact the nearest FBI office or American embassy or consulate.

>>> Photo, video and wanted poster courtesy of FBI