Search continues as support pours in

It has been about two years since he has seen his granddaughter, but Spurgeon Hampton said they stay in touch by phone and he spoke with her about a month ago.

"I was so proud of her and what she has accomplished. She always said she was going to graduate high school, and she did. I was proud of her for doing that," the Seminole, Fla., resident said of his granddaughter, Jennifer Hampton.

On Sunday, he received the news that his 21-year-old granddaughter disappeared from her motel room in Knoxville, Tenn., where she and three coworkers of Florence's Mama Blues Buffet restaurant were training employees to open a new Mama Blues restaurant.

Authorities said Hampton was last seen around 7 p.m. Friday and was last heard from between 10:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. when she sent text messages to friends in the Shoals.

Police say some evidence from Hampton's motel room indicates foul play could be a factor in her disappearance. The evidence has been turned over to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

"Unfortunately, there isn't anything new at this time," said Knoxville Police Public Information Officer Darrell DeBusk. "We're hoping that we get the reports back by TBI very soon, which are critical in determining which way the case will go."

He said police have been interviewing friends, family and the co-workers this week as well as searching the area around Lovell Road, where the motel is located.

"The longer this goes on, the more worried I get," said Spurgeon Hampton.

He said he was devastated when he got the news that his granddaughter has

vanished.

"It's really hard to comprehend the emotions that affected me," he said. "In fact, I don't think I have ever had that kind of emotion.

"All I wanted to think about was what could I do. The answer was I couldn't do anything. It's just a hopeless, helpless feeling."

Jennifer Hampton is a 2007 graduate of Waterloo High School, where she was homecoming queen.

"You just can't believe how this has really affected our school. It's been very surreal around here because everyone is so concerned," said Waterloo Principal Ryan Harrison. "In a small school like this, everyone knows everyone. And Jennifer was well known here and well liked."

Friends and family are rallying to help Jennifer's family.

Jim Lewis, an official with Mama Blue's restaurant, was in Knoxville with Hampton at the time of her disappearance and said the company is taking care of the family's expenses while they are in Knoxville. He said the company is also in the process of setting up an account at a Shoals area bank to help the family with expenses. The company has also offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to Jennifer.

Melanie Pigg said members of Hampton's 2007 graduating class also want to do something to help Jennifer's family.

"We want this child found and found alive," said Pigg, whose son dates a classmate of Hampton's.

She said the cheerleaders will be taking up contributions at Friday's Waterloo football game.

"And (Thursday) I will be calling other schools throughout the area hoping other cheerleaders will be taking up money at other games," she said.

She said for the past two days she has received calls from friends and classmates wanting to do something.

"We needed to do something, but just don't know what to do," said Amy Byrd, who graduated with Hampton.

"We all just had a helpless feeling, and we decided at least we could raise money to help her family."

"This is our child; this is North Alabama's child and she's lost. I can only imagine what her family is going through," Pigg said. "This is a way everyone can help this family."

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.