by Bruce A. Smith

Pierce County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Wednesday that they have identified a “person of interest” connected to the disappearance of Nicole White, the Orting mother of two missing since Saturday.

 Sheriff’s deputies served a search warrant on this individual Tuesday evening, according to PCSD spokesperson, Detective Ed Troyer, but since this person has not been charged with a crime his name is being withheld.

 However, members of Nicole’s family reported that this individual is a resident of Graham, and adamantly claimed that Nicole had a pre-existing relationship with the man, whom she was last seen leaving Jeepers Grill on Saturday night.

 Appearing distraught and disorganized, family and friends of Nicole gathered at the Safeway in Graham Wednesdays afternoon to talk, support each other, and plan how they can best discover her whereabouts.

 Leading the group was Nicole’s father, Eddie Nieto, who arrived Wednesday from his home in San Diego.

 “Nicole was a wonderful mother,” he told the Mountain News. “She was very caring, very hard working, and had an awesome personality.” He also said that Nicole had lived most of her life in the Orting area.

 At a loss of where to search for Nicole, some family members opted to return to the Webster Rd area where her car was found abandoned on Monday even though the area was widely searched by the police and Search and Rescue teams on Monday.

However,  the car had been found with the keys still in the ignition. 

In addition, other family members placed posters at businesses in Graham, and along 224th and Mountain Hwy between Webster Rd in Graham and Spanaway where the Jeepers tavern is located, just north of the Roy “Y.”

 Nieto also said that the PCSD was continuing its own search, but in a separate and undisclosed location. “They don’t want us running down there and disturbing any evidence,” he said. “But, we’re asking everyone for their support and prayers, and if anyone has any information on Nicole, please call 911 or the Sheriff’s Department.”

 To contact the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, call 253.798. 4721.

_______________________________________________

Family and friends of Nicole White gather in the Safeway parking lot in Graham on Wednesday to strategize how best to find their missing loved one.

_______________________________________________

Jeepers Bar and Grill, Spanaway, WA.