Friday is Phylicia Thomas’ 25 birthday but there are no parties planned. Phylicia has been missing since February of 2004.
Friday members of her family gathered outside the courthouse in Wilkes-Barre to make sure her case is not forgotten. It was a grim gathering on a dreary day.
Members of Thomas’ family held signs urging investigators to find the young woman and her friend, Jennifer Barzilowski.
Both have been missing for years. Phylicia Thomas was last seen February 11, 2004.
“I think her boyfriend and his friends murdered her,” Pauline Bailey said of her daughter, Phylicia’s fate. She wants authorities to bring cadaver dogs to a property along Golf Course Road in Lehman Township. She thinks her daughter is buried there.
That’s where 31-year-old Steve Martin used to live. He was identified by state police as a “person of interest” in their probe of the missing women.
Martin, however, committed suicide in prison before ever being charged.
Thomas’ relatives said Steve Martin kept some interesting company.
They said he used to pal around with accused double murderer Hugo Selenski, a man who became infamous when authorities found human remains in his backyard in 2003. ”It’s not right. I know its just not right. They need to go get those girls off of that land. I know they’re there. They are there,” Bailey said.
State police said the case remains open and is being worked on every day. Investigators added the Martin property in Lehman Township has been thoroughly investigated.
That’s of little comfort to Pauline Bailey on this, her daughter’s 25 birthday.
“I love her so much, and I want her to know that I love her. We’re all here for her, and we’re not going to give up until they go up there with dogs and give her back to us,” Bailey added.
She said the family is planning another demonstration next month on the third anniversary of her daughter’s disappearance.