Perry Hopf pleads for wife?s return

Perry Hopf, husband of Sharon Hopf who was reported missing more than a week ago, choked back tears as he read a prepared statement to members of local media this morning, pleading for the return of his wife.

Hopf?s daughter Vanessa, Sharon?s cousins Ron and Shelli Sojka and B.J. Franklin of the Horizons Survivors program all comforted Perry Hopf as he read the statement. He stood at the microphone stand and introduced himself to the people gathered before reading a prepared statement. Washington County Sheriff Jerry Dunbar had said the family wouldn?t take questions after the statement.

?My family and I trust that everything that can be done to find Sharon is being done,? Hopf said. ?We want Sharon to know that we understand the stress she has recently been under and just want her to contact us and let us know that she is OK. Sharon, if you see this, please know that I love you and miss you, and that you are the most important thing to me.?

Video of the statement can be viewed on The Washington Evening Journal?s website washjrnl/villagesoup.com.

During the meeting, Dunbar and Division of Criminal Investigation Investigator Jeff Uhlmeyer reported evidence had been found indicating Sharon Hopf had left the area of her own accord. Dunbar said Hopf had recently undertaken more responsibility at work. Uhlmeyer said the investigation had uncovered that Hopf had written a business check for $1,000 to herself with ?employee bonus? listed on the memo line two days before her disappearance. He also said she had deleted all the outgoing email from her work computer the day before she disappeared. Efforts are underway to recover the deleted emails.

?At this point in the investigation, there is no evidence to suggest that foul play was involved in the disappearance of Sharon Hopf,? Dunbar said. ?Therefore, there is no threat to public safety stemming from this incident in and around Washington County. The investigation has developed information regarding Sharon Hopf and the various stresses that she was managing in her day-to-day life. This information suggests that her disappearance is one of her own doing.?

Dunbar said law enforcement agencies from Iowa and Missouri are continuing to investigate the disappearance. Anyone with information is asked to call 319-653-2107.

Dunbar later said stresses included additional responsibilities at work and family stress.

Uhlmeyer gave a timeline of the search for Sharon Hopf. On Jan 5, Hopf reportedly left her home in rural Crawfordsville at about 7 a.m., which Uhlmeyer said was about an hour earlier than normal. At 7:11 a.m., her cell phone was powered down. At 7:30 a.m., a witness reported seeing her buy gas at Ainsworth Four-Corners. At 12:30 p.m., Perry Hopf was informed Sharon Hopf hadn?t shown up to work at Hopf Home Furnishings in Kalona. After looking all afternoon, the Hopf family notified the sheriff?s department.

Dunbar said various searches had been conducted, including aerial searches by local pilots and the Iowa State Patrol Aerial Wing. Public areas also were checked.

Uhlmeyer said cell phone monitoring had begun right away and financial tracking of Sharon Hopf?s credit cards and bankcard was done.

On Jan. 7, Uhlmeyer said, the Warren County, Mo., Sheriff?s Office located Hopf?s 1999 Chevy Lumina near Wright City, Mo., a town about 30 miles west of St. Louis. The town is about 200 miles from Crawfordsville. The car was at an abandoned home at 28566 Highway F, just outside the city limits. A search was conducted on the car and the surrounding area, but Hopf wasn?t located. Several items have been sent to the DCI lab for testing.

Uhlmeyer said her cell phone with a full charge was discovered in the vehicle. He also said the vehicle had a little gas in the tank and was operable. The ignition keys were not in the vehicle, he said, and the doors had been locked. He said there was no sign anyone else was in the vehicle other than the operator. The family saw photos of the vehicle and felt nothing was out of place. He said earlier reports that a purse had been located were inaccurate. He said Sharon Hopf didn?t carry a purse and kept her driver?s license, credit cards and money in her pocket.

?A K-9 unit was used on Jan. 8,? Uhlmeyer said. ?That K-9 was given a scent from clothing items of Sharon?s. The dog did hit on a scent where that vehicle was located, but lost her trail shortly after.?

On Jan. 11, Warren County Sheriff?s Office conducted a 40-man search of a one-mile radius of where the car was found.

?At this point in time the investigation shows no evidence that would suggest foul play in Sharon Hopf?s disappearance,? Uhlmeyer said.

Dunbar said he called the press conference because he wants people in the community to know they are still safe, to update the public on the case and to reach out to Sharon Hopf. Uhlmeyer said Hopf?s relatives in St. Louis and Texas had been contacted and reported they hadn?t seen her.