CLARKSVILLE, Ark. (KTHV) - A family still struggles to recover 10 years after the disappearance of April Beth Pitzer. A memorial service was held on Saturday in Clarksville to celebrate her memory.
"April was sweet, funny, loyal, fun-loving," said Pitzer's friend Linda Cord. "Oh my goodness, that girl was fun loving!"
It's a story that made national headlines for years. April Beth Pitzer disappeared on June 28, 2004. She was last seen alive in California. She has since been declared legally dead, but her body has never been found.
On Saturday, family members and friends shared their favorite stories of the short time they had with her. But between the innocent memories, was a dark side of Pitzer's life. Jail time and drug use plagued her for a period of time before she disappeared at the age of 30.
"I wonder what it would be like to have a mom to go to for problems," said Kennedy Pitzer, April's 13-year-old daughter. "And just knowing that she's not going to be there when I get married or help me pick out my dress is just hard."
Pitzer's daughters Kennedy and Bradley were only three and five when they lost their mother. Pitzer's mother, Gloria Denton, said she'll never stop trying to wring good out of her tragedy.
"Out in San Bernardino County, she was the most investigated case they've ever had. They didn't have a cold case unit; now they have a cold case unit," Denton said.
Denton visits California at least once a year. She doesn't believe her daughter is still alive, but she won't stop searching until she's found her remains.
