NEWS

'Our community here has been shaken': Brookfield gathers in support of Brittany Tee

Marco Cartolano
Telegram & Gazette
A vigil for Brittany Tee was held Tuesday night.

BROOKFIELD — Candles circled the Brookfield Common on a dark and chilly Tuesday night as friends, family and neighbors held a gathering to continue to raise awareness of missing Brookfield resident Brittany Tee.

The disappearance of Tee, 35, last seen Jan. 10, remains a mystery. Two weeks after she went missing, friends hoped that continued public attention to her case would help in finding Tee.

Tee's disappearance has shaken the residents of Brookfield, a small town of about 3,400, and several residents have described knowing Tee and wanting to help in finding her.

More:Divers join search in Brookfield for Brittany Tee, last seen Jan. 10

Organizers handed out flyers with Tee's missing-person notice, candles and blue ribbons.

Deb Waugh, a family friend of Tee, said that the ribbons represented Tee's "spectacular" blue eyes.

"If you know Brittany, you know that she's silly, she's funny, she beautiful," Waugh said. "And there's nothing more that she loves than her mom and her sister and her niece and nephew and her family."

Brian Oxman, assistant pastor at Brookfield Congregational Church, recited a prayer acknowledging the concern residents have felt over the past two weeks and asking for aid in Tee returning safely.

"It's evident that our community here has been shaken," Oxman said. "The uncomfortable feelings, the frustration, the sadness, the worry and fear is because one of your own is lost to us. One of your sheep is missing."

A poem for Brittany

Waugh also read a poem written by one of Tee's friends addressed to Tee.

"I hope you are able to know how much love there is for you," the poem reads. "I hope you know you are the sunshine for so many. I hope you know we are all so hopeful and feel so helpless."

As she recited the poem, Waugh held back tears.

Tee's mother, Susan Tee, briefly spoke with media as she also tried to hold her composure. She said that she was grateful for the support her family received following her daughter's disappearance.

Susan Tee, who lives in Spencer, earlier spoke about the worry that has filled the days since she learned of Brittany Tee's disappearance. She also said that it is not like her daughter to not check in with her family or to not share her whereabouts.

Water search of Quaboag Pond

Divers searched the shoreline of Quaboag Pond Tuesday morning.

The water search, involving the state police underwater recovery unit, did not turn up anything of note. The effort was considered an expansion of ground and air searches that followed the family's report that Tee was missing.

According to state police, there is currently no plan to resume the water search Wednesday and investigators will determine next steps.

Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. has said that Tee's disappearance is not currently being treated as a criminal investigation.

Tee, a 2006 graduate of David Prouty High School in Spencer and a 2010 graduate of Westfield State College, is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing 120 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

Police said she was last seen wearing a black winter coat, a hoodie, jeans and work boots.

Anyone with information can call the anonymous tip line at (508) 453-7589.

Latest "Missing Person" poster.