Investigators are still searching for clues into the disappearance of 16-year old Manny Collins, who was last seen May 8 in Columbia Heights.
Patty Wetterling, the mother of Jacob Wetterling who was abducted in 1989 and has long been an activist and supporter when it comes to crimes against children, is reaching to Manny's mother to offer support and compassion.
Wetterling understands exactly what Ashley Berry is going through, waiting for days, weeks, months and then years for her son Jacob to be found.
"It's just so awful, what she's having to face," she tells WCCO's Susie Jones.
Wetterling remembered the waiting and the fog she lived in.
"You know what, time becomes irrelevant in your world," Wetterling explains. "It doesn't matter. It's just another day and you can't keep track of how many. I mean, you can, sort of, your body keeps track of how many days it's been and everything. But it's such living in a fog of this can't be real."
She is praying that Manny is found soon.
"Whatever the answers are, there's a lot of healing that's gonna take time," says Wetterling.
Still, Patty Wetterling says someone out there knows something about Manny Collins.
"You know, whoever did this lives amongst us, you know, and maybe they'll share in a bar a story or something," Wetterling adds. "It's like somebody might still have that piece of information and she's really been good about addressing the public to help."
Anoka County investigators say they have been scouring a landfill in Elk River for clues, but have not yet released any details of what might have been found.
Berry says the plan was for Manny to finish school while living at his dad's and then move back with her in June. Police say they have a person of interest in the case, but have yet to arrest or identify them. Berry believes his father is involved in her son's disappearance.
If you have any information, call National Center for Missing or Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST or the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office at 1-763-427-1212.