WYLIE, Texas — The prayers were mighty and unified in purpose.
They came from dozens of friends, neighbors and strangers who skipped out on watching the beginning of the election results Tuesday night. They instead packed into the sanctuary of Gateway Community Church in Wylie to pray for Melonie Ballenger’s safe return.
“I think she's been kind of surprised how many people are here, but I think she'd have been moved,” said Melonie Ballenger’s husband Daniel Ballenger. “I’ve probably gone through a month's worth of emotions in the last day and a half - a lot of crying, a lot of praying.”
He says those feelings have consumed him since he and their two daughters woke up Monday morning.
“The girls and I couldn't find her and fortunately found a note and we've been looking for her since and called the police,” he said.
Daniel says she didn’t take her phone or car.
The Wylie Police Department spent Monday out with investigators, K9 search dogs, and a helicopter searching around their home. They went back for another coordinated effort Tuesday.
“There are several residents that have Ring cameras,” said Wylie Police Sgt. Donald English. “We're in the process of going through all those videos at this moment.”
So far police say the only recent footage they’ve been able to find is of Melonie Ballenger at Walmart on Saturday.
“We're trying to retrace her steps from that Saturday all the way up to the day that she went missing,” English. said. “If anybody seen the two vehicles that belong to the family or see her out about walking, we just want you guys to give us a call.”
Three days in, Daniel Ballenger said he wants people to understand the urgency of this search.
“She’d hate me telling you this, but she needs heart surgery soon and she needs medication,” he said. “She didn't take it with her.”
And he’s hoping this message finds its way to Melonie Ballenger.
“I love her. I hope she’s safe and her daughters missing her and we just want her back. Please come home,” he said.
Melonie Ballenger, 45, is described as 5’7, 135 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, police said in a news release. It's unclear what she was wearing when she left. Police say she was last seen in the area of Lakefield Drive and Country Club Road, officials said.