Volunteers, police seek help in 1995 missing person's case

BEAUMONT -- Nearly 10 years have passed since a 34-year-old woman disappeared in Beaumont's west end, but an effort to solve the case is kept alive.

DeDe Keene and law enforcement want the community to know of Kimberly Anne Langwell and hope that area residents can help solve her disappearce and bring closure to her family. Police believe someone could have seen something that would help solve Langwell's whereabouts.

Keene holds the case close to her heart.

"Kimberly's case, when I found out about it, smoked my heart," she said. "I received my calling in July 1999, also the same month and year she disappeared."

Police said Langwell went missing a decade ago at about 5 p.m. July 9, from a parking lot at Dowlen and Phelan roads, where an Eckerd's pharmacy was located. Her car, cell phone and other belongings inside the vehicle were left behind. 

"Nobody wants to talk about this. Nobody wants to think about this, but one of the reasons I want to do this every year is to get people talking again," Keene said.

Keene and her husband flooded the Dowlen parking lot with fliers last year.

The Keenes work to bring awareness of missing people through their organization, America's Missing Abducted and Lost Person's Ministry.

Keene said she understands what the fear is like for people who have been abducted. She said she was kidnapped in two states, once when she was a child and later as a young adult.

"God had a reason and purpose for sparing my life," she said.

She hopes that reason also is to help locate Langwell and bring peace to her family.

"Somebody knows something. We're appealing to you, your children, grandchildren," she said. "Get everybody talking about it.

"Don't forget this woman is still missing, she added. "We need your help."

At 7 p.m. Thursday, Keene will be at the corner of Dowlen and Phelan passing out fliers about Langwell to raise awareness about the case. She welcomes anyone who would like to join the effort, she said.

Police are asking anyone with information about Langwell's disapearance to call Beaumont Crime Stoppers at 833-TIPS. Callers are not asked to give their name and could earn a cash reward, officials said.