Article published December 07, 2007
FAMILY AND FRIENDS PRAY
Community holds prayer vigil for missing ex-Toledo councilman
By LAREN WEBER
BLADE STAFF WRITER
With his arms raised in prayer, Lawrence Hancock last night asked that God provide strength to his pregnant wife, who at that point had been reported missing for almost 24 hours.
Karyn McConnell Hancock, 35, a local lawyer and former Toledo councilman, was reported missing about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday by her husband.
Karyn McConnell Hancock is described as being about 5 feet, 3 inches tall, weighing about 140 pounds.
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Nearly 70 people, including her father, Toledo Municipal Court Judge C. Allen McConnell, held a prayer vigil last night at the Genesis Dreamplex Hotel & Conference Center on South Reynolds Road, where the First Church of God holds services.
Family and friends prayed and sang for two hours — many asking God to bless Ms. Hancock and her unborn child. Several held their hands high in prayer; others wiped away tears.
| UPDATE |
The FBI confirmed this morning that they are assisting Toledo police in the search for Ms. Hancock. They were contacted yesterday, said Scott Wilson, spokesman with the FBI’s Cleveland office.
"We have been notified by the Toledo police department regarding this missing attorney and we are assisting them in trying to locate her," he said.
"We’ll do whatever we can to locate this woman and see what happened to her."
The FBI is asked to get involved in missing persons cases because they can offer assistance if there is a lead that needs to be investigated outside Ohio, Agent Wilson said, noting that he has no knowledge of any leads in this investigation at this time.
The U.S. Marshals in Toledo said they have not been contacted to assist in the search for Ms. Hancock. |
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“We ask you to encourage her heart like you never have before,” her husband prayed. “Karyn is standing, and she is standing strong.”
Robert Culp, pastor at the First Church of God, 3016 Collingwood Blvd., said Mr. Hancock and Judge McConnell declined further comment.
Ms. Hancock, who is six months pregnant, last was seen at her office at 316 North Michigan St. in downtown Toledo about 9 a.m. Wednesday before she left to attend to a case at the Lucas County Juvenile Justice Center, police said.
Dan Pompa, juvenile court administrator, said there were no records at the court indicating Ms. Hancock was scheduled to appear for a case that day.
He sent an e-mail to about 30 court employees yesterday upon hearing the news. About 20 people responded, saying they hadn’t seen Ms. Hancock at the court Wednesday.
“Most people know who she is,” he said. “No one saw her in this building [Wednesday].”
About 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, Mr. Hancock received a call from his son’s day care notifying him that his child had not been picked up, police said.
The Rev. Robert Culp anoints Lawrence Hancock as Toledo Municipal Court Judge C. Allen McConnell joins in the prayer vigil for Karyn McConnell Hancock, who is the wife of Mr. Hancock and the daughter of Judge McConnell.
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Mr. Hancock told police he has tried repeatedly to contact his wife on her cell phone, but said it has been shut off.
He also checked at her office and said her vehicle was not there.
Mr. Hancock told police that one of his wife’s clients recently has become aggressive toward her and she has been receiving suspicious phone calls.
Toledo police Chief Mike Navarre declined comment, refusing to say whether foul play is suspected in Ms. Hancock’s disappearance.
Ms. Hancock was sued in Lucas County Common Pleas Court last week by a former client who claimed she negotiated a settlement for his car crash but never gave him the money.
According to the lawsuit, Ms. Hancock represented Maurice Morris of Toledo after he was hurt in a crash in 2004. The suit said Ms. Hancock negotiated a settlement with the insurance company in the amount of $10,000, without Mr. Morris’ knowledge.
Mr. Morris further claims he was never given the check, and instead, it was “forged by either the Defendant Karyn Richelle McConnell, or by persons within her employment at the law firm of Karyn McConnell Hancock Co., LPA.”
Lawrence Hancock, right, gets a hug of support during a prayer vigil for his missing wife, attorney Karyn McConnell Hancock, at the Genesis Dreamplex Hotel & Conference Center.
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The suit, assigned to Judge Denise Ann Dartt, asks for damages in excess of $50,000.
Josh Bey, who at one point during last night’s vigil got on his knees and prayed, said it’s important not to lose hope.
He said Ms. Hancock, whom he has known for several years through the church, is a strong woman with a “beautiful spirit.”
Mayor Carty Finkbeiner, who attended last night’s prayer vigil, said he has known the McConnell family for years.
“Karyn was the apple of mom and dad’s eyes,” Mr. Finkbeiner said.
Toledo Municipal Court Judge Timothy Kuhlman issued a statement yesterday afternoon on behalf of the court saying their thoughts and prayers are with Ms. Hancock and her family.
“Out of respect for their privacy, we have no comment,” Judge Kuhlman said in the statement.
Ms. Hancock was appointed to City Council in March, 2003, and then elected later that year. She lost her bid for re-election in November, 2005.
In June, 2005, Ms. Hancock was issued a $25 parking ticket for parking in a no-stopping, tow-away zone on Erie Street across from Toledo Municipal Court, which was captured on a police video camera.
A Toledo police officer informed her she was parked illegally, but she told him she would only be away from her car for a short time. He later ran her license plate and learned the plate and her driver’s license were expired and ordered a tow for her car.
She asked repeatedly for professional courtesy and twice said that if she were to make a telephone call — including one to the police chief —“all of this would be negated.”
Chief Navarre said the councilman did not contact him.
But upon hearing of the situation from a deputy police chief, Chief Navarre canceled the tow and told the councilman she had to renew her driver’s license and license plates.
Chief Navarre said he was led to believe the officer didn’t see Ms. Hancock driving. When the officer confirmed he saw her pull into the spot, the chief directed him to issue Ms. Hancock the citations.
Ms. Hancock later was issued two citations for driving on an expired driver’s and having expired license plates.
She pleaded guilty in Toledo Municipal Court in July, 2005, and was sentenced to pay a $50 fine and $78 in court costs, which she did.
Chief Navarre later met with the officer involved and apologized for “putting him in a tough spot.”
Ms. Hancock is described as being about 5 feet, 3 inches tall, weighing about 140 pounds.
She drives a black 2005 Chrysler 300 with a Ohio license plate of DIA 6410.
Contact Laren Weber at: lweber@theblade.com or 419-724-6050.
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