PORTLAND, Ore. – College friends of missing Oregon native Brooke Wilberger (search) have organized a day of fasting and prayer on Tuesday to mark the three-month anniversary of Wilberger's disappearance.
"At this point in time in the search, there haven't been any significant evidence or suspects. We felt helpless, and we wanted to do something. We can't help in the police investigation, so we're doing this," said fast organizer Brittany Knight, 19, of Bountiful, Utah.
Knight met Wilberger last year when they lived in the same dorm apartment complex at Brigham Young University (search ). They were supposed to be roommates this year. "She's just the friendliest person. Anyone she meets, she would make instant friends with. We miss her so much," Knight said.
Knight estimated at least 500 people around the country would participate in the fast, which has been promoted in churches and among people who knew Wilberger.
"It's part of my religion. We believe fasting really helps in addition to prayer," said Knight, who, like Wilberger, is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (search ).
Wilberger vanished from her sister's apartment complex in Corvallis on May 24. Police believe she was abducted.
At one time or another, up to two dozen males have been on what police call a "persons of interest" list. None of them has been charged in the Wilberger case, although one, Sung Koo Kim (search ), has been labeled a suspect. He is in jail in Portland on unrelated charges of burglary and theft.
Knight remains optimistic that Wilberger will be found alive.
"I really, truly believe she's still alive and still out there. She's a strong girl, she's a fighter, she's very smart," Knight said.
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