SARASOTA – A Sarasota mom who went through her own son’s disappearance four years ago shares how her journey can help the family of Gabby Petitio.
“This doesn’t have an area code, this doesn’t have a gender, this doesn’t have a race, it doesn’t have any of that,” said Tawana Spann.
The Gabby Petito case has resonated with many families who’ve dealt with searching for a missing loved – including Tawana Spann who experienced looking for her missing son Jabez Spann when he went missing September of 2017.
“Speaking from any parent that went through their child been missing – I know that it had to be rough road especially when you realize that this is really, really happening,” said Tawana.
Petito’s case hit close to home for Tawana and her family…she adds nothing can prepare a family for what’s to come when a loved one goes missing.
“From all of in our family – we really grieve and hope that the Petito’s can get through this as well as possible. I know it’s not an easy journey, it’s something that’s a day-by-day process,” she said.
Tawana says spotting the red flags can be the detrimental in any missing person’s case.
“Time is of the essence in things like this. Being aware and being conscious of things that stand out is really, really, really important. It can help to have responsibility of community – community is important,” said Tawana.
Giving the family time to grieve is just as important as they move on to make funeral arrangements for Gabby – as they work through the gamut of emotions from a tragedy.
“You know without a shadow of a doubt they question what could have, or how could i? And it has nothing to do with the actions of anybody,” said Tawana. “This was a decision that was made by someone and sometime no matter what we think we could do about it – it was determined, and it would’ve resulted in it regardless.”
Through her own son’s disappearance Tawana is working to help families searching for their missing loved ones through the Jabez Spann Foundation.
