As far as Sharon Ardelean knows, her daughter has just vanished.
Misti Whitfield, 35, was last seen at about midnight May 1, at or near Nautical Marine, 5525 W. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa. According to Ardelean, owner of Cuzzins Bar, in Plant City, Whitfield had an altercation with an individual at that address and has not been seen since.
“I went there personally and talked to the last person to see her,” she said. “She came on a bicycle, and the bicycle was still there.”
Ardelean is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads her to her daughter.
Whitfield, who grew up in Plant City, has battled drug addiction for 18 years. She’s been to rehab multiple times, and her arrest record includes charges such as drug possession, burglary and manufacturing of a controlled substance.
Because of this, Ardelean doesn’t know whether her daughter is missing because of foul play or by choice. She is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to finding her daughter. She’s also utilized both her and her daughter’s Facebook pages to connect with friends — and possibly even Whitfield herself.
Ardelean wrote: “Misti, if you can read this, I love you more than my own life. I know you know this, but if not, I’m screaming it to you now! Please come home to me! I will help you — whatever it takes and for ever how long. There is no reason to be ashamed. Your road has been long and hard and … not fair.
“I am here to take your hand and walk the rest of that road with you,” she wrote. “I will pick you up and bring you home and never let you go again. … This, I promise. If you can read this, please don’t make me wait too long.”
Ardelean said she knew something was wrong when she didn’t hear from Whitfield. Ardelean has custody of one Whitfield’s five children, and Whitfield called every one or two days to talk.
“For over a year and a half, she would call, without fail,” Ardelean said.
Tampa Police Department is handling Whitfield’s disappearance as a missing persons case, Andrea Davis, spokeswoman for the police department, said.
“She’s in our systems as a missing person, so if she comes in contact with any law enforcement in the country, she’ll come up as missing from Tampa,” she said.
ABOUT WHITFIELD
Misti Whitfield, born July 7, 1977, is 5-foot-7, 140 pounds with red or strawberry blond hair and hazel eyes. She also has a tattoo of a gecko.
Anyone with information should contact Tampa Police Department Det. Sarah Price, (813) 276-3200. The family also asks that readers share this information on their social-media accounts.",Prodex", (
