BRUNSWICK, Ga. – Amber Whited's friends unloaded flyers and a cooler full of water Thursday as they set up a search party for the missing 22-year-old mother of two, whom they call "everyone's best friend."
"She's like one of the sweetest people you'll ever meet," said John Buckland, Whited's cousin. "She's super kind-hearted, loves kids, loves animals. She goes out of her way for anybody, give the shirt off her back if she had to."
Buckland and Whited grew up together and used to live in the same home. He said this is the worst pain he's ever felt.
"The hardest part is not knowing what happened or what could've happened," Buckland said.
Since Tuesday, Whited's family and friends have been scouring the county, driving up and down dirt roads and posting flyers around town.
Flyers are also hanging up on the doors of the Harley-Davidson dealership where Whited worked. Her co-workers were just trying to get through the day.
"I couldn't sleep at all last night," said Teresa Massad, Whited's manager. "I have a 21-year-old daughter who was friends with her. We both are very upset. It's just nerve-racking."
Whited left work to take her lunch break at 11 a.m. Tuesday and never returned, which her manager said is completely out of character for the young, hard-working woman.
"She's always been early, she's never been clocked in late," Massad said. "She went to her car, told the other employee, 'I'll be back at 12,' and she never came back."
Co-workers say Whited was last seen in the parking lot. She got in her car, and surveillance video from across the street shows her pulling out, turning right and never coming back.
Her friends don't know who would want to hurt her or why, but they vow not to give up searching until she's found.
"If anyone out there has her, let her go, let her loose," Massad said. "She has two babies, and that's all I need to say."
"Everyone has a fear that something bad will happen to someone in their family, and it's a reality for us now," Buckland said. "So we just want everyone to pull together to try to just find her, and just keep praying and just open your hearts and just help find her."
Whited's car, a 1992 white Honda Accord, was found at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, about seven miles away from her workplace. The keys were in the car, the windows were rolled down, and there was a flat tire, police said.
A white man about 5 feet 6 inches tall with dark hair and wearing a white T-shirt was seen leaving the vehicle around 4-5 p.m. Tuesday, according to police.
Friends of Whited said police have questioned three of the 22-year-old's friends in her disappearance.
Anyone with any information about Whited's disappearance can call 912-554-7802 or Silent Witness at 912-264-1333.