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Vigil Held For Teacher From Long Beach Who Vanished In New Orleans

LONG BEACH (CBSLA.com) — A vigil Sunday was held for a 26-year-old woman from Long Beach who went missing while participating in a teaching program in New Orleans.

Dozens of friends and family members of Terrilynn Monette gathered outside Wilson High School, her alma mater, to lend support to one another.

Monette grew up in Long Beach and graduated from Cal State San Bernardino. She had been working in New Orleans for the "Teach NOLA," a program that allows educators to teach impoverished areas.

Monette was last seen March 2, after visiting a bar with friends. She told them she was going to sleep in her car rather than drive home. Her car is also missing.

Investigators say the signal on Monette's cellphone dropped a few hours after she was last seen.

Volunteers this weekend consisting of her loved ones and coworkers took part in search efforts in New Orleans.

"I just miss my sister. When we go out to family functions, I look to my right and I see my sister, smiling. And I just want to tell her, 'Stay strong, Terrilynn, please. I love you,'" said Nicole Monette.

Investigators have also been reviewing security footage from outside the bar where Monette was last seen. So far, they are not revealing any details.

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