Vigil held for woman who went missing on river

March 22 marked eight months since Rebekah Barsotti went missing after seen on the Clark Fork River near mile marker 71 known as St. Johns that has a sandy beach enjoyed by many during the summer.

Her dog, Cerberus, was found dead on July 27 about 10 miles downstream. Private Investigators have been hired after exhausting all local resources and even several rescue/recovery organizations from out of state.

Her disappearance has made national news including NBC Dateline and The Hunt with John Walsh on CNN. But there is still no sign of Rebekah. A search and rescue team from Wisconsin and Oregon is about to wrap up their 30-day commitment as they have been canvassing the Clark Fork from the Alberton Gorge to the Thompson Falls dam.

Her mother and stepfather, Angela and Gerry Mastrovito, uprooted from their home outside of Richmond, Virginia and have been in Missoula the entire time with no plans on leaving until Rebekah is located.

At a vigil last Tuesday on the Mineral County Courthouse lawn, Angela shared her frustration.

“One of the things that has caused me so much anguish is that it has only been looked at as a river accident. There has never been any forensics done on the vehicle or on her personal belongings. They have been confiscated and kept it in custody for eight months,” she said. “They haven’t processed anything to find out if there was anything else that may have happened.”

The Mastrovitos believe that they are the driving force of all the searches and publicity in locating their daughter. Angela has been diligently working with all law enforcement, media, billboards and flyers of Rebekah throughout Northwest Montana and Idaho, along with an ever-increasing cash reward now at $12,000 for information leading to her discovery.

This has drawn support from the communities who stand arm in arm with them. Liz Dozier is a stay-at-home mom and had never met Angela but has become her right-hand helper.

“I saw her on face book in July and August and I reached out to her cousin and that’s how we got connected. I started helping her in-person in September after my son went back to school,” Dozier said. “It’s compassion. I wouldn’t ever want to be in her position as I have a 2-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son, and this just terrifies me growing up in Missoula my whole life. Going to the river and thinking that you are safe. This is unacceptable.”

Lorie Lee Jacobson has lived between Superior and Missoula since 1999 and she, along with her dog, Teddy, attended the vigil for a show of support.

“It could have been me!” she exclaims. “Me, along with my dog. God must be on my side, but I don’t know why this had to happen. I don’t know if she drowned in the river like her dog. I don’t know what happened, but it just touches my heart. I just pray that the lord God will help find her.”

Several people braved the windy afternoon to come for support and share hugs.

“The most agonizing part is that in the first 72 hours, what should have been done, wasn’t done,” said Angela.

Understanding that those critical hours are long gone and can’t be recovered, she now feels that education for law enforcement can help make up for this tragedy.

“We want to create Rebekah’s Legacy and work with Brian Frost (Missing Persons Specialist) in the Missing Persons Clearing House in the (Montana) Department of Justice.”

Both Mastrovito’s said that there is training for missing persons in eastern Montana but not over here.

Gerry said it remains stressful.

“It’s like a roller coaster ride because one day we receive positive news and the next day the opposite. So, until Rebekah is found, we are just living on hope,” he said.

Rebekah Barsotti is described as being 5-5 and weighing 135 pounds. She has blue eyes and sandy hair. Anyone with information about Barsotti's whereabouts is asked to contact the Mineral County Sheriff's Office at (406) 822-3555.