New Jersey

Police Search for Woman and Great Granddaughter Who Went Missing Christmas Eve

Police say they were last seen at a Love's truck stop and Exxon gas station in Ruther Glen, Virginia and appeared to be in good health.

Police are searching for a woman and her great granddaughter after they went missing on Christmas Eve.

Barbara Briley, 71, and her great granddaughter La’Myra Briley, 5, left their Mays Landing, New Jersey home on December 24. They were embarking on a 9 1/2 hour, 557-mile trip to Morven, North Carolina to visit Barbara's mother.

Police say they were last seen at a Love's truck stop and Exxon gas station in Ruther Glen, Virginia and appeared to be in good health.

"She said she was lost," said Joanna Strange, a store clerk at the gas station who spoke with Briely. "She said she needed directions. I spent probably about 30 minutes, 45 minutes with her in the store, talking to her, trying to make sure everything was okay before she left the store."

Police obtained surveillance video of Briely and her great granddaughter at the gas station. Briely's family members are also handing out fliers of the two to truck drivers who pass through the stop.

"As of 8 o'clock Saturday night we have not physically talked to her at all," said Briely's daughter Tonya Floyd. "Her phone is going straight to voicemail. It's not even ringing. Trying to keep a clear head and not think the worst."

Loved ones say Briely drove buses for NJ Transit for 30 years, was an alert driver and always kept her cellphone close.

"If she could drive, if she could talk, if she could contact somebody she would not let these many hours go by and not talk to us," Floyd said.

Briely is driving a 2014 silver Toyota Rav 4 with the New Jersey license plate C80ELS. Detectives from Hamilton Township, New Jersey State Police, Virginia State Police and police in Morven, North Carolina are all searching for the woman and girl.

If you have any information on their whereabouts please call Detective Robison at 609-625-2700 ext.578.  

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