VICTORIA, Texas — The Victoria Police Department is asking for help finding a 20-year-old woman who was reported missing last week.
Police said Amanda Stevenson's mother reported her missing on Tuesday, Nov. 21, around 10:30 a.m.
After that, VPD said they have worked "tirelessly" chasing down leads trying to find her. They said they've elevated the investigation to "critical" status.
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Stevenson's phone was found, but it was locked with an unknown password. Police said they're working to get it open to find out who she was communicating with before she went missing.
Police said they found out that she knew 45-year-old Kevin Bennetsen, who worked for a rideshare service.
Detectives interviewed Bennetsen about Amanda's whereabouts early in the investigation, but when they tried to pull him over to ask more questions, police said he killed himself. The Texas Rangers are investigating that incident, VPD said. The vehicle he was driving was taken into police custody.
Police said they then searched the areas the man was known to frequently visit. They said they searched a piece of property near Yoakum with scent dogs and drones several times but nothing was found.
VPD said it alerted other police departments within a 200-mile radius.
Amanda's last known whereabouts were near Salem Road on Sunday, Nov. 19. She was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, sweatpants and black shoes. She's about 5 feet, 1 inch tall and weighs about 125 pounds.
Anyone with information is asked to call Victoria Crime Stoppers at 361-572-4200.