We are reaching out with heavy hearts as our family is searching for our beloved aunt and sister, Rita Bocchieri VonderBank. Rita is the sister of our Father, Peter VonderBank, and her disappearance has profoundly affected our entire family. We have not physically seen Rita since June 2022. The last time anyone spoke to her was on or around Valentine's Day, February 2024, and her last known residence was Bayberry Care Center in New Rochelle, NY. We have reached out to her son and the care center, but have been unable to locate her or obtain any information about her well-being.

Rita's situation is especially urgent because she has Alzheimer's disease and is extremely vulnerable. On August 22, 2022, we believe she was the victim of a tragic attempted murder- suicide. Her husband of fifty-five years, who was also her caregiver, we believe, tried to end both of their lives. We think He gave Rita a large number of pills and, according to the police report, locked the door, forcing a neighbor to let them in so that emergency services could find her. He had taken his own life in their front yard. Rita survived but was in a coma on a ventilator for three weeks. She would have never chosen this, and our family would have done anything to help them both if we had known what was about to happen.

Our Father, Peter, is also in poor health, suffering from rapidly progressing Parkinson's disease and dementia. The uncertainty about his sister's fate has taken a heavy toll on him. Having been born eleven months apart, they have always been close, and not knowing if Rita is safe or even alive is heartbreaking. As a last resort, we have now hired a private investigator to assist us in locating Rita and obtaining the answers we need. The funds raised will be used directly to cover the investigator's fees and any additional resources needed to find her. Our family is desperate for answers and to ensure Rita is safe and cared for. Any support you can offer will make a difference in our search and bring hope and comfort to my family, and especially our Father.

This is our last hope in obtaining any answers concerning her well-being. Thank you for reading, and please share this with others. Any help would be deeply appreciated. With Gratitude, The VonderBank Family.