Family, Friends and Strangers Search For Mandy Matula

Over 200 people showed up before 10 a.m. on Saturday at Victoria Elementary School to search for missing Eden Prairie woman Mandy Matula in an attempt to bring her home before Mother's Day. 

Laura Powers of Savage, who knows Matula through a family friend, came to search Saturday in Victoria with her daughter and her son's girlfriend.

"I just can't imagine the pain the family's going through, and I want to help," she said.  

Searchers also met up beginning at 11 a.m. at Bayview Elementary School in Waconia. An estimated 400 people came to help in the searches throughout the day. 

Although nothing has been reported of interest from the day so far, a true community formed as people from near and far, those who know Mandy Matula and those who don't, came to help bring her home. A long list of businesses from the area donated food, drinks and money to aid in the search efforts.

As one searcher commented on the Finding Mandy Matula facebook page:  

I was in Victoria this morning and I just have to say how impressed I was with everything– the PEOPLE, the food and beverages that were donated, the efforts that went into coordinating this incredible effort.... and did I say... THE PEOPLE??? There aren't any better. A true team effort. And all for Mandy and her family. 

Matula, 24, has been missing since the evening of May 1. She was reported missing after she failed to show up to work Thursday, May 2. She was last seen with David Roe at Matula's family home.

Matula and Roe were dating but had broken up recently. Officers asked to speak to Roe after he was identified as a “person of interest,” and he agreed to come in. He shot himself in the Eden Prairie City Center parking lot before police were able to speak with him. Roe died at 3:04 a.m. Friday at Hennepin County Medical Center, and the death has been classified as a suicide.

To assist with community searches taking place Saturday, Eden Prairie Police released descriptions of clothing Matula could have been wearing on the night she disappeared.

A piece of clothing to be on the look out for is a sweatshirt with a University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) logo on it.

The descriptions also included Black Nike Air tennis shoes, women’s size 8.5–9, with hot pink lining and a white swoosh on the side. However, the shoes have now been accounted for at one of Matula’s employer’s. Police are advising those who are participating in community searches this weekend to no longer look for these shoes.

Over the weekend, police continue to work closely with the Stearns County Sheriff’s Department to search targeted areas of the Mississippi River, with assistance from St. Louis County law enforcement teams.

In addition, the Eden Prairie Police Department continues to conduct targeted searches of specific areas as warranted by the investigation.

Areas of interest in Carver, Wright, Stearns, Sherburne and Benton counties have been established and outlined in maps of targeted search areas where Matula could be located.

Matula’s brother Steven Matula announced Friday that friends and family of Kira Trevino would be joining in the search just a few days after Trevino's body was found in the Mississippi.

Trevino went missing Feb. 21, and her body was only found Wednesday—although her husband, Jeffery Trevino, was earlier charged with two counts of second-degree murder. 

A Facebook page dedicated to "Finding Mandy Matula" has been created to keep people apprised of search information. Information is also being shared on Minnesota United, a page for three missing Minnesotans.

Bracelets are being sold to benefit the “Mandy Matula Fund.” They were available in Eden Prairie as of Sunday afternoon at Kowalskis, Brunswick Zone, Aveda, the Legion in Chanhassen, Eden Prairie Community Center, Touch Boutique and Miller Park concession stand. There will also be girls at Eden Prairie High School selling the bracelets Monday and Tuesday during lunches in the commons. 

Starting Monday, EP Power Nutrition and The Edge in Chanhassen will be selling them.

For more information about the investigation, see:

• Saturday Search Planned for Mandy Matula
• Police Release Maps in Search for Mandy Matula
• Eden Prairie Mayor: 'We're All Deeply Saddened' By Mandy Matula's Disappearance
• Mandy Matula’s Blood Found on Jacket in David Roe’s Vehicle
• Monday: No New Places To Search for Missing Mandy Matula
• Search Continues For Missing Eden Prairie Woman Mandy Matula
• Ex-Boyfriend of Missing Woman Dies After Shooting Himself
• Paper Left Behind After Man Shot Himself May Contain Clues to Woman's Disappearance
• Man Shoots Himself Prior To Questioning About Missing Woman

Join Eden Prairie Patch for more news and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.