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Police Assisting With Search For Missing N. Miami Woman

NORTH MIAMI (CBS4) - Police scoured a North Miami neighborhood Friday searching for a missing 54-year-old woman as her loved-ones asked for the public's help.

"We need her and we miss her," said Maria Castillo as North Miami Police officers went door to door showing residents the flyers and a photo of Castillo's sister, Noemi Gonzalez, a former 911 dispatcher who disappeared from her home early Wednesday morning.

CBS4 cameras captured three Miami-Dade police cars bringing in dogs to join the search, including a bloodhound that sniffed one of Gonzalez's blankets to see if her scent could be picked up and followed.

"No trail was picked up by the bloodhound," said North Miami Police Major Neal Cuevas.

A Miami-Dade Police helicopter also circled the neighborhood around Northeast 5th Avenue and 136th Street on Friday morning.

"I hope that my sister will be found," Castillo told CBS4's Peter D'Oench as she fought back tears. "I am worried about her. "She has Cardiogenic Syndrome and epileptic seizures and she can pass out when the cardiogenic problem flares up and she does need salt and medication."

"She has never disappeared like this before," said Castillo. "Never, never, never. She is a very organized person and whenever she was leaving the house, she would let someone know. She would never leave her cell phone and keys and purse behind as happened this time."

"I love her very, very much and I am worried," she said. "My sister is a great person who always helped people in the neighborhood.

She helped children and tutored them for free. If you see my sister, please call the police."

"I would mean everything to find her," she said. "It would mean my whole life, my life. She has many people saying prayers for her and we trust in God that she's going to come home."

Police say Gonzalez is 5'6" tall and weighs 160 pounds. She was last seen wearing navy blue pants and a white shirt.

Her son, Pedrito Gonzalez, told D'Oench that he last saw his mother at 2 a.m. on Wednesday when she was asleep in her bedroom inside the duplex that they have lived in since 1986 at 487 N.E. 136th Street.

"I woke up at 8 a.m. and went through the house and could not find her," he said. "The front door was closed and it was unlocked. She wasn't there."

"She's on medication and I am worried because this is the third day," he said. "She usually eats bread and then takes her medication. I'm her only child, you know. She is my whole life."

Major Cuevas said police at this point have no reason to suspect foul play. Gonzalez's loved ones say she has no history of mental illness.

Her relatives have been posting her picture on trees in the neighborhood and have been searching the area as well to see if anyone has seen her.

Pedrito Gonzalez said one neighbor said he spotted Noemi Gonzalez walking around 1 p.m. on Wednesday.  But Cuevas said that claim has not been verified.

Anyone who can help North Miami police find Gonzalez should call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).

Callers will remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

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