EASTHAMPTON — The vigil began with a moment of silence and about 75 candles raised in the darkness, marking the two weeks since Joanne “Jo” Ringer went missing.
Her daughter, Savanah Ringer, 19, cried as she asked the crowd at Millside Park on Thursday to contact police with any information they may have about her mother’s whereabouts.
“Mom, please wherever you are come home,” she said, her voice breaking. “We are praying for your safe return.”
Jo Ringer’s friend, Ginger Plantier of Hatfield, said officials found her longtime friend’s missing 2001 Volkswagen Jetta on March 6. Asked about the discovery, Savanah Ringer said she couldn’t disclose where the car was found. They say Ringer was headed to Easthampton on March 2 for a job at a taxi service, which she was to start the following day.
Police have not said whether they believe foul play is involved in the disappearance of Ringer, 39, of Clarksburg. The Berkshire district attorney’s office appealed to the public March 5, asking for those with information to contact the Cheshire barracks of the state police.
Ringer is 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighs about 130 pounds, and has brown eyes and brown hair with purple streaks. She also has assorted tattoos that span the full length of her right arm as well as piercings on her face and torso.
“The Massachusetts State Police have been amazing,” Plantier said. “They’re following up on every lead that they’ve been getting, it’s just that no one’s offering much.”
Thursday’s event, Plantier said, was about rallying the community together for support and to send a message that “we want her home.” The sentiment among friends and family seemed unanimous: “It just doesn’t make any sense,” they said, shaking their heads.
Savanah Ringer, of Easthampton, said most of her mother’s ties are in Easthampton and Connecticut — she’d only moved out to the Berkshires a few months ago when she got married. She’d had a hard time finding work out there and was desperate for a job, and so turned to her roots.
Her daughter and Plantier say she was enjoying life in the Berkshires, where she has two dogs, ducks and chickens.
“She doesn’t take off for more than a day or two, and stays in contact,” Savanah Ringer said. “I feel like everyone here is looking for her as much as we are.”
As she spoke, a man came and introduced himself.
“I’m Miguel,” said Miguel Candelaria of Florence. “I took your mom to prom.”
“She always talks about how she got taken to prom as a freshman!” Savanah Ringer said, smiling.
Observing the interaction, another friend, Ashley Elliott, said Jo Ringer “leaves impressions” wherever she goes.
“She’s the most outgoing, in-your-face type of person,” Savanah Ringer said. “If you invite her somewhere it’s not like her to turn you down.”
Friends and family said Jo Ringer loves motorcycles and could take a car apart and rebuild it. She loves dogs, and is a longtime breeder of English mastiffs. She loves baking for her family and friends, is forever loyal to the Volkswagen brand and is known for her now-broken-down dune buggy. She loves video games and Hello Kitty.
“She had a gypsy heart and she was a private girl, but she loved fiercely — everyone who knows her knows this is not normal Jo behavior,” Plantier said. “Somebody knows something, and somebody has to say something. There’s more to it than this.”
Amanda Drane can be contacted at adrane@gazettenet.com.