Deputies search for pregnant 26-year-old missing woman

HOUSTON – A missing woman's car has been found Saturday.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office says 26-year-old Melissa Sowders' car was found in a parking lot near I-45 and Richie Road Friday night.

The Harris County sheriff's office says Sowders was last seen on Wednesday at a fast food restaurant on FM 1960 on Interstate 45.

Equusearch joined deputies in the search for a missing woman on Saturday.

Deputies believe she is a victim of foul play.

Melissa Sowders' parents, Sonia and Jimmy Newsom said their daughter separated from her husband a few months earlier.

They said on December 26, Sowders went to meet her estranged husband at the McDonalds.

"I think they were just meeting to talk together and for her to be able to see her children," said Sonia Newsom.

Newsom said she got worried when Sowders current boyfriend said Sowders had not come home from the meeting and wasn't answering her phone.

Newsom said Sowders is two months pregnant with a baby by her current boyfriend.

Sowders' parents worry their daughter is hurt or dead. "It's just a sad empty feeling," said Sonia Newsom.

"You want them to be safe no matter how old they get. I'm just hoping that God will make it where she can come back home and safe and be here for us."

"It's really hard for me right now," said Jimmy Newsom. "I feel emptiness in my heart."

Texas Equusearch plans to begin searching for Sowders' car Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. They will set up a command post at the Daily Bread Church at 106 Bammel Westfield Road.

They will post the command post location on their website.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (713)-222-TIPS.