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It is a heartbreaking milestone for the family of 73-year-old Dorothy Heard.
December marks six months since they have seen their loved one. It will be the family’s first Christmas without her. However, the family continues their search to find her.
"I'll never stop,” said Rex Heard, Dorothy’s son. “I love my mother."
Someone broke into Heard’s Noblesville home back in June. Personal items, including jewelry and money were taken. Heard has not been seen since.
Fox 59 was there in October as a search party looked for heard, or clues that might lead to her, near Marion at Mississinewa Lake. However, the group’s search turned up empty.
The person who could be the key to the investigation is Donald Burns, Heard’s nephew.
Not long after the break-in, Burns was seen selling some of Heard’ jewelry at a Marion pawn shop. Later, surveillance pictures captured him shopping at Wal-Mart with Heard’s credit card.
Both items were reported taken from Heard's house.
Police said Burns is a person of interest in the case, not a suspect.
“We would like the opportunity to be able to talk with him, we haven't been given that ability and so he remains a person of interest," said Lt. Bruce Barnes, Noblesville Police Department.
When police attempted to speak with Burns at his home in Elwood, he fled. Currently, Burns has been in the Madison County jail for six months for resisting law enforcement.
Burns will appear in court Monday. There was speculation Burns could be released Monday for time served. However, the Department of Corrections said there is no chance Burns will be released. The DOC said Burns has parole violations and must go in front of the parole board. Until then, they said Burns will remain behind bars.
The family is not pointing fingers, but they are skeptical.
"I'm not here today to point fingers,” said Rex. “I'm just trying to look for some answers. It's disappointing, that a family member could do that.”
Rex said no matter what happens Monday, his search for closure continues.
"It’ll be a relief that we find her, passed or alive,” said Rex. “I hope it's alive, but then we can turn the corner and go another direction."