By John R. Russett

& Mike Longaecker

jrussett@rivertowns.net

mlongaecker@rivertowns.net

Family and friends of Marya Ann Christiansen continue their pleas for help in locating the Hager City woman.

A search effort that began over the weekend continued Tuesday and was scheduled to resume this morning for the 23-year-old who never came home after a night out in Red Wing.

Family launched private search parties Tuesday after Pierce County sheriff’s deputies halted the official physical search a day earlier.

Andrew Johnson, whose brother is her boyfriend, conducted three meetings Tuesday at the Red Wing American Legion.

“We don’t have answers, we don’t have clues, we don’t have nothing,” Johnson said.

Authorities turned their focus Tuesday to reviews of video surveillance and additional witness interviews and a check of Christiansen’s bank for clues to her whereabouts. Sheriff Nancy Hove said Christiansen’s cellphone has not transmitted a signal authorities can track.

“We looked in every hole we could think of,” Hove said

Red Wing police now have taken the lead role, the sheriff said.

While authorities worked the investigative side, Christiansen’s family organized a private search effort. A Facebook page dedicated to finding Christiansen chronicles that effort.

Hove said Sunday’s search covered land, Mississippi River waters and included aerial flyover by a Wisconsin State Patrol helicopter.

Deputies said Christiansen was last seen at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday in Red Wing. Her boyfriend, Chris Johnson, notified police Saturday afternoon that she hadn’t returned to their home on County Road OO.

Hove said since Christiansen is an adult, authorities have to allow for the possibility that she intentionally disappeared.

“We’re kind of lost right now,” she said.

Family and friends said they believe she would not have left on her own.

“If you know Marya, if you know our family, it’s not her,” Johnson told the crowd during the 5 p.m. Tuesday meeting - the last of the day.

Christiansen was out drinking with friends Friday night at Kelly’s Bar. The group got a ride back to a friend’s house in Red Wing when Christiansen decided to leave, the sheriff explained. Christiansen’s friends tried talking her into staying, but she drove off by herself.

Monday’s effort to locate Christiansen included supporters contacting garbage collectors, trucking services and delivery drivers in the area.

“We’re trying to do everything we possibly can to bring Marya home,” Andrew Johnson said.

Two children live at the home with Christiansen and her boyfriend, Hove said.

A message posted on the group’s Facebook page asked to keep messages to pertinent information and to refrain from posting “speculation comments or questions.” Andrew Johnson said they are receiving more than 100 Facebook messages per hour.

Christiansen was driving a white 2006 Dodge Caravan bearing Wisconsin plates 443-VPF. The van is reported to a large dent in the front driver’s side fender and the rear passenger side taillight area.

Sarah Young contributed to this report.