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Husband joins search for woman who vanished leaving tiki bar

Posted at 5:37 PM, Jul 13, 2014
and last updated 2014-07-13 19:08:16-04

LANCASTER COUNTY, Va. – Sunday marks a week since 43-year-old Claudine Gifford vanished after leaving a tiki bar in the Northern Neck.

Gifford’s estranged husband joined search teams in Lancaster County this weekend in hopes of finding any clues into her disappearance.

"It's a double-edged sword.  You're looking at something so beautiful here, and then on the other side of it… I just want to be close to what is going on," Richard Gifford said.

Sheriff's deputies said Gifford was last seen leaving a tiki bar with a man on July 6.

Rich and his wife were living apart for the past year or so, but he drove up from Orlando, Florida as the days rolled on with no sign of Claudine.

Richard Gifford

Richard Gifford

Deputies said Gifford's case is still considered a missing person investigation.

A crew of more than 100 search and rescue professional spent all day Saturday scouring an area around Windmill Point and in Cox’s Farm near Kilmarnock, but found no sign of her.

"They're telling me now that no news is good news," Gifford said.

Claudine Jaquier Gifford

Claudine Gifford

Rich and Claudine have a 15-year old daughter who is in Florida using the internet to track the search for her mother closely.

"I think the reality of it all is beginning to come into play for her," Gifford said.

No one knows where Gifford is or why she disappeared. Her husband is hoping even the smallest piece of information will help find his wife.

Gifford described his wife a soft-spoken woman who is loved by everyone she knows. She is 5 feet 4 inches tall weighing about 112 pounds and was last seen wearing a multicolored tank top, blue jeans and sandals.

If you have information that could help investigators, call the Lancaster Sheriff’s Office at 804-462-5111 or Crime Solvers at 804-46-CRIME(462-7463).

Deputies will continue searching for Gifford on Monday.