UPDDATE 3:45 p.m.: A Rock Springs woman who had reported missing after she left her job at a bar Tuesday has been located safe.
In fact, she was never missing.
Kristen Taylor, 47, was surprised to learn from a friend that people were looking for her because she had no idea they thought she’d disappeared after she completed her closing shift at the World Famous Astro Lounge early Wednesday morning.
Taylor told Cowboy State Daily on Friday afternoon that she was just on her days off and not actually missing.
It was all a misunderstanding, said Frank Lew, owner of the adult entertainment club where Taylor works.
He grew concerned and contacted authorities Wednesday morning when a cleaning person arrived that morning to find the two outer front doors unlocked and her cash register closing duties not completed.
Taylor's cellphone was also found at the bar further adding to her employer’s concern.
With the front doors open and her sales not batched out from the night, Lew was worried because it’s not like Taylor to forget to do her closing duties.
“So that got everybody worried,” he said.
Taylor reported to work as soon as she found out she had been reported missing and spoke to the Rock Springs Police detective, who closed the case.
“The important thing is she’s here and she’s safe,” Lew said.
ORIGINAL STORY BELOW:
The Rock Springs Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a worker at a local bar who has been missing since Tuesday.
Kristen Marie Ann Taylor, 47, was last seen Tuesday evening at the World Famous Astro Lounge, an adult entertainment club in downtown Rock Springs, where she works.
When employees showed up the following morning, the door to the bar was unlocked, the cash register was open, and some of Taylor’s personal effects were left behind.
That prompted her employer to contact police to report her missing, said Elizabeth Coontz, public information officer for the department.
Coontz declined to say what those effects were, but said video surveillance from inside the establishment has so far provided no clues as to where she might have gone and if she left with anybody.
Taylor’s gray Ford vehicle is also missing and calls to her cellphone have gone unanswered, added Coontz.
Unconfirmed Sightings
There are unconfirmed reports that Taylor was seen by a co-worker at 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning, Nov. 12, as well as a couple of other reported sightings at local gas stations.
But so far, these sightings remain unconfirmed as investigators continue to track down video surveillance at these locations, Coontz said.
Investigators are asking for the public’s help in locating Taylor.
“We would love to speak to anyone who may have seen her after she left work Wednesday morning up until now,” Coontz said.
Taylor is on the schedule to work Friday, so investigators are hoping she shows up.
The police are treating Taylor’s case as a missing person and aren’t saying at this point whether they suspect foul play.
“At this time, she’s considered missing,” Coontz said.
Taylor is described as a 5-foot, 1-inch woman with blonde hair and brown eyes weighing about 100 pounds. She’s driving a gray Ford passenger car with Wyoming license plate No. 4-794B.
Anyone who has seen Taylor or has information is asked to call Rock Springs Police at 307-362-6575 and reference case R25-21226.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously on the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation’s website.
Jen Kocher can be reached at jen@cowboystatedaily.com.
