CADILLAC — The adoptive mother of missing Wexford County woman Rebecca Park is speaking publicly for the first time since her daughter disappeared weeks ago.
Stephanie Park said Rebecca was adopted at one year old along with her younger sister Kimberly and an older brother. She said she decided to speak out because she considers herself Rebecca’s real mom, having raised her since infancy.
Park said she stayed silent to protect her family but wants the community to know that Rebecca had a loving home and that her family is devastated.
“We have been silent because we do care. We wanted her found. We did not want to push anybody that would be involved in this way so that she would be able to be found. I never suspected her as running away with the baby. So, we have been preparing ourselves for this outcome,” Park said.
Park said Rebecca was deeply loved by her parents and siblings.
“She had some mental illnesses and some troubles,” she said. “She was a loving person but she had her problems. She deserves to be remembered as the sweet girl that she was when she was younger,” Park said.
Park said the last time she heard from Rebecca was on Halloween when they talked about trick-or-treating and wished one of her children a happy birthday.
She said Rebecca’s two young sons, ages 3 and a half and 2, are in her care, along with Kimberly’s nearly 1-year-old daughter.
“She knew she was not able to take care of the boys. So she wanted [them] to be raised like she was raised in the home she was raised in with the same loving parents,” Park said.
Park said she remained silent to shield the children from further trauma but wants people to know Rebecca came from a good home.
“They were brought up in a middle-class family in a very nice situation. They have grandparents. They have siblings. They have aunts and uncles and cousins and nieces and nephews,” Park said.
Park said the situation has become more difficult following the recent arrests of Rebecca’s fiancée, Richard Falor, and her sister, Kimberly Park, on charges connected to the case.
She said she has been in communication with the Wexford County Sheriff’s Office and believes investigators are working diligently.
“They have way more information than what is out there, which is because they need to make a very solid case. They did not stop working on this. This has never been pushed to the side. There are hundreds of police officers looking for her and doing everything they can behind the scenes,” Park said.
Park said she appreciates the community’s support but hopes people will respect her family’s privacy as they grieve and avoid approaching her in public, especially when she has the young children with her.
RELATED STORIES:
- Fundraiser to support surviving children of Rebecca Park set for Dec. 13
- Biological mother, spouse face murder and torture charges in Rebecca Park case
- Biological mother of missing Rebecca Park arrested, awaits arraignment
- Arraignment postponed for biological mother, stepfather of Rebecca Park
- Biological mother of Rebecca Park in custody in Wexford County Jail
- Wexford County officials identify body as Rebecca Park, search for baby continues
- Adoptive mother of Rebecca Park breaks silence after discovery of body
- Missing woman Rebecca Park found dead after 21-day search
- Tips mount with no investigation breakthroughs in Rebecca Park disappearance case
- Wexford Sheriff’s Office urges public to ignore online rumors in case of missing woman Rebecca Park
- Friends hold vigil for missing pregnant woman on her due date
- Community unites in search for missing pregnant woman Rebecca Park
- Cadillac area woman, 38 weeks pregnant, reportedly still missing
- Fiancé of missing pregnant woman from Manton speaks out, worried for her safety
- Family of missing pregnant woman Rebecca Park pleads for safe return
- Friends desperate for return of missing pregnant woman Rebecca Park as more details emerge
- No new evidence in 22-year-old pregnant missing woman case in Wexford County
- Cadillac community organizes search for missing pregnant woman