Jefferson Co., PA (WJAC) — It's been 16 years since authorities responded to a fire at Sykesville home.
After that fire was extinguished, the remains of a six-week-old baby were discovered and the child’s mother, Joey Lynn Offutt, was missing.
Authorities say her car was also missing, leading police to wonder where she was.
Years later, that question still remains.
6 News spoke with her sister about how her family is still holding out hope.
It was in the early morning hours of July 12, 2007 when Joey Lynn Offutt seemingly disappeared without a trace.
Investigators found her home ablaze and the remains of her newborn son, Alexis Brolin III, inside.
A few days later, investigators found her car in State College, where she used to live, but no signs of Offutt.
Now, 16 years later, no Offutt and no new evidence of where she could be or what could have happened.
It's been almost two decades but the search for Joey Lynn Offutt continues as her family and state police continue to search for the missing Sykesville woman.
With so much time passing, the pain her family feels is still deepening.
“Personally, it’s hell, not that it isn't every other time; it doesn't get any easier I can tell you that,” her sister told 6 News.
Offutt has not been heard from since July 5, 2007, but the investigation into her disappearance started a week later, on July 12th, when authorities responded to a fire at her home.
That same morning, Alexis Brolin, the father of her youngest child, reported her missing.
An investigation into the fire revealed that her son had died before the blaze began and the state police fire marshal ruled the fire as arson.
But what the investigation didn’t reveal is where Offutt was and when, and even who, parked her car near a State College apartment complex.
Since her disappearance, there have been many theories circulating about what happened to her, theories her sister says just cannot be true.
“I knew that from the very beginning, and actually shared this the day of the fire when we were up there and told the investigator, I said I know that in this scenario, statistics and things like that would say that she did this, she had something to do with this and I said please don't look at it like that, not in this case.”
Offutt’s oldest sister described the kind of a woman she was, saying she was naïve, and her kindnesses could have led to her disappearance.
“She trusted everyone; no matter what they told you, they are telling you the truth and she didn't get that part, she didn't have that part where you would just question somebody's story.”
But her sister remembers her, more than anything, as a devoted mother, active community member and friendly woman.
“She was the kind of person, for example, wherever she would live, she would get involved with the local churches and stuff and she would always be the one volunteering herself for stuff.”
Offutt’s family keeps her memory alive by posting any updates, including birthdays, holidays and the anniversary of her disappearance, on social media like their ‘Help Find Joey Lynn Offutt’ Facebook page and their website, joeyoffut.org, hoping for any new news on this years-long cold case.
“Other than just repeatedly posting her pictures and her story, there wasn't a whole lot I can do.”
The theories on Offutt’s disappearance have spawned several crime podcasts. In fact, one of those in New York has taken legal action against Jefferson County.
The podcast, operated by AudioChuck Podcast Network, has filed Right-to-Know requests, asking for the death records of baby Alexis.
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records ruled in favor of releasing the information, but the county has appealed that decision.
Last month, the court ruled against the podcast, ordering the records not to be released, and the county has not answered our questions about this legal fight.
As the investigation into Offutt’s disappearance remains open, her family just has one plea for the public.
“I want my sister's body. I know my sister is dead, I know somebody knows where she is, they know what they did with her, and I just want her remains. I just want her remains so I can get peace and closure to my nieces and my mother and myself. I made a stupid promise to my then 9-year-old niece that I would bury her mom and her baby brother together and she holds me to it.”
At the time she disappeared, Joey Lynn Offutt was 33 years old.
She is described as a petite woman, approximately 5 feet, 3 inches tall with a thin build.
She has brown eyes and brown or red/brown hair.
Anyone with information can call the Pennsylvania State Police in Punxsutawney at 814-371-4652.
The family of Joey Lynn Offutt has also set up a toll-free number the public can contact: 1-877-440-5639.
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