Another year has passed since my brother, Rickie Bethea, disappeared without a trace.

Rickie was a native of Scotland County and well known in the community. Rickie was a resident of Corbett Family Care in Caswell County at the time of the disappearance. Rickie's admission date to the facility was July 13, 2007. Just 10 days later, we receive a call informing us that he was missing.

The day before Rickie's disappearance, he spoke with my mother and that is the last time any of my family has heard from him. Rickie was very intelligent and loved by my family.

My brother's battled a mental illness that required him to take medication on a daily basis.

This tragedy has left a void in our hearts. However, hope still remains with our family, and as a sign of hope, our family has decided to keep a candle burning in our windows until either Rickie returns or we have closure to his disappearance.

If you have information on the whereabouts of Rickie Bethea, please contact the Caswell County Sheriff's Department at (996) 694-9311, Laurinburg Police at 276-2311 or Peggy Smith at 276-4191 or 318-3413.

Peggy Bethea