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Search Continues For Cary Man Who Vanished A Year Ago

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CARY — One year ago, a Wake County convenience store operator vanished. At first, police thought it was suspicious, but now they are not so sure. Nevertheless, there are still numerous unanswered questions for family and friends.

Larry Jones left one morning to open his convenience store and was never seen again.Cary Policesuspected he was robbed and kidnapped.

Later, evidence indicated he may have taken off on his own to go fishing. Family members and investigators have no hot leads, but they have not given up.

"We miss him, and we want him to come back if he's alive," said Susan Gay, Jones' sister.

Not a day goes by that Gay is not thinking about her brother, a well known Cary convenience store manager.

"The more I think about it, the worse it gets," said Gay.

The worst part for the family is not knowing if Jones was abducted or if he took off on his own. Cary investigators still get leads on Jones every day or two.

"There's nothing major new. It's still an open case, an active case, an ongoing case. When we get something, we, of course, check it out," said Lt. Steve Lee of the Cary Police.

Jones' family is also doing some investigating. In January, the search went all the way to LakeOkeechobeein Florida, the nation's second largest freshwater lake.

"A friend of his and my brother went to pass out fliers and to just look around because that lake is where Mike and Larry went fishing all the time," said Gay.

That kind of determination to find Jones is also evident at Jones' mother's home, where a faded yellow ribbon remains around her oak tree.

"My mother refuses to let us take it down. She's hoping that if Larry is alive and he sees it, maybe he'll come home knowing that she's wanting him here," said Gay.

Jones' siblings are not the only ones looking for answers. He has a wife and three children. This has also been tough on Jones' mother who is battling cancer.

If you have any information on this case, call Cary Crime Stoppers.

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