Family of lacking Wyoming girl reveals ‘disturbing’ messages, purple flags earlier than vanishing | USAEMALL.com

FIRST ON FOX – Katie Ferguson’s sister mentioned she “knows in my heart my sister isn’t here” after Katie missed her youngest daughter’s first birthday Nov. 27.

Ferguson, a 33-year-old mom of two younger ladies, hasn’t been seen since a minimum of October and was formally reported lacking to police in Cody, Wyoming, Nov. 2.

“I think something happened, whether it was an argument or they didn’t agree on something. I don’t know if it had to do with the kids or whatever,” Katie’s sister, Nicole Ferguson, advised Fox News Digital throughout an emotional interview. “In my heart, I know she’s not alive anymore. I don’t need any kind of proof from anybody.

“If she was right here, she would have gotten a maintain of one in every of us. There’s simply no means she would not have. There’s no means. That’s not Katie, Katie does not conceal out. She’s not that kind of particular person. …. And I’m hoping, if that’s the case, that she died immediately and did not endure.”

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Katie Ferguson was reported missing Nov. 2, but her family believes she disappeared much earlier than that.  (Family handout)

As of Dec. 1, Katie’s case is being investigated by local and federal law enforcement as a missing persons case, but her family thinks her ex-boyfriend, Adam Aviles Jr., is involved or knows what happened.

Aviles Jr., is being held in jail on a federal charge of being a felon in possession of ammunition. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial has been set for Jan. 24. 

His lawyer, David Weiss, didn’t immediately return Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

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Nicole has known Aviles Jr. since he was a teenager, and she said he always seemed like a good guy and didn’t think he would hurt anyone. But Katie and Aviles Jr.’s relationship turned into an ugly, verbally abusive mess before Katie broke it off in May, Nicole said. 

They both struggled with addiction, but they seemed to be on a positive, clean path.

Katie’s stepmom, Angela Ferguson, recalled a family trip in 2021, when Katie and Aviles Jr. were “in a very good place.”

Katie Ferguson, pictured here with her daughter and ex-boyfriend Adam Aviles, hasn’t been seen since October. (Facebook)

“It made me really feel actually good that she appeared to have turned issues round, and he or she was in a great spot in life,” Angela told Fox News Digital. “She was very attentive to the children, and I simply received to know her higher. 

“On this vacation, I saw her in a different light and had hope that everything was going to turn out all right.”

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But one thing “shifted in him” shortly earlier than they broke up in May, Nicole advised Fox News Digital. 

“I don’t know if it was the stress of having a baby with her or the stress of life or what it was, but he was different. He was very controlling. Like, she wasn’t allowed to go do anything or go anywhere,” Nicole mentioned.

“I would be like, ‘Katie, you know, let’s get together. My kids miss you.’ And she would be like, ‘I can’t. Adam doesn’t want me to.'”

Katie Ferguson’s household believes the 33-year-old mother of two died throughout a cross-country journey together with her ex-boyfriend, who’s going through federal gun cost. (Family handout)

Unnerving messages: “I kept seeing him everywhere. I couldn’t stay”

Nicole mentioned she was proud her sister ended issues with Aviles Jr., however Cody, Wyoming, seemed to be unsafe for Katie and her youngsters, in accordance with Facebook messages Katie despatched to her stepmom in May on the way in which to Alabama.

Katie deliberate on residing together with her organic mother and the children in Alabama to keep away from Aviles Jr.

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During the journey to Alabama, Katie appeared panicked and scared in messages to her stepmom, which have been shared with Fox News Digital. 

“I don’t want to be stranded on the side of the road with two kids,” Katie wrote to Angela. “I know you’re probably thinking well you should have thought about it and planned about it, but Adam kept following us. 

“I stored seeing him in all places. I could not keep in Cody (metropolis in Wyoming) … I’m not asking for lots. I simply need assistance.”

One of a handful of messages Katie Ferguson sent to her stepmom, Angela Ferguson, May 17, as Katie traveled to Alabama. (Angela Ferguson)

Angela Ferguson, Katie’s stepmom, playing with Katie’s young children. (Angela Ferguson)

Angela said she sent her money and helped her get a hotel room. The messages showed Katie’s appreciation for the help. 

“Thank you very a lot … We did not know what we’ll do, and we’re virtually out of fuel,” Katie wrote to Angela. “We are so exhausted. We simply wish to get as far-off from him as we will as a result of we’re uninterested in wanting over (our) shoulders consistently or scared to take the women wherever.”

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During the same message exchange, Katie alleged Aviles Jr. was using drugs again.

For the next few months, Katie stayed with her mom until they seemed to have had a fight or disagreement, and Katie wanted to move back to Wyoming, according to messages she sent Angela Sept. 24.

A message Katie Ferguson sent to her stepmom, Angela Ferguson, Sept. 24, as Katie returned from Alabama to Wyoming with her ex-boyfriend, Adam Aviles Jr. (Angela Ferguson)

Adam Aviles Jr. was originally arrested on less significant drug charges to hold him until a federal prosecutor officially charged him with a more significant crime. (Cody Police Department)

Katie called Aviles Jr. to get them, according to her family and court documents in his federal gun case, which was shocking to her family. 

“Katie stopped speaking to Adam (after they broke up),” Nicole said. “That’s why it was so bizarre to me that unexpectedly he was in Alabama.”

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Angela believes, knowing how loving Katie is, that Katie wanted the kids to be with their dad.

“All she wanted was to be a happy family,” Angela said. “I think sometimes in these relationships, you get trapped in wanting to do the right thing and let the kids be with their dad, even though it’s not a good relationship.”

Katie Ferguson is pictured with her sister Nicole. (Angela Ferguson)

Katie vanishes

At some point on the way back to Wyoming, Katie disappeared.

She was last seen in Trumann, Arkansas, around Oct. 5, according to the court documents in Aviles Jr.’s federal criminal case, which noted there “was no projectile hole in the passenger side door.”

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Four days later, on Oct. 9, Aviles was pulled over by Texas State Patrol, which was when law enforcement found a “projectile hole” in the passenger side door, and Katie wasn’t in the car, according to the indictment.

He was pulled over again in Colorado, and he was the only adult in the car, the federal complaint says.

Aviles and the girls returned to Wyoming, without any sign of Ferguson.

Katie Ferguson is “goofy” with a load of nicknames, including “Gangsta Kate,” because she likes to rock out and rap along with songs in the car, family said. (Angela Ferguson)

“When I first found out about my sister missing, I was in shock. I cried for three or four days,” Nicole said, as she rubbed the tears from her eyes. “I know in my heart, he (Aviles Jr.) did something to her.” 

She said she’s relying on her family to keep it together and focus on self care.

Troubling signs: Blood, bullet holes, missing front seat

On Nov. 4, Aviles’ 1999 Dodge Durango, which he drove during the cross-country trip, was found in the Oregon Basin area near Cody. 

Federal investigators executed a search warrant two days later and allegedly found dried blood, which was confirmed by a crime lab, and three “fired projectiles” consistent with a .45-caliber round inside the passenger side and two stuck in a door, a federal complaint says.

The front seat was missing, and a “large portion” of the truck’s trim was removed and stuffed in trash bags in the back seat, according to the indictment.

“All she wanted was to be a happy family,” Katie Ferguson’s stepmom, Angela, said about her stepdaughter, who is pictured here. (Angela Ferguson)

The family continues to wait to hear from investigators about potential DNA on clothing and other items investigators found in the truck. 

Angela said she and her family learned about this evidence in the news. 

“I wish we could have been informed, or it could have come out different,” Angela said. “Just the thought of her possibly suffering as her life slipped away. And the kids where they are with her. Like, there are so many things that we just will probably never know.”

Officers search Katie Ferguson’s ex-boyfriend’s truck, where they allegedly found unnerving evidence, including blood, according to court documents. (Fox News)

Katie’s nicknames and goofiness 

Angela and Nicole stressed how important it is for their family to think of Katie with her quirks and goofiness. 

Angela laughed as she talked about “Gangsta Kate,” a nickname Katie gave herself because she always rapped along with the latest songs in the car. 

She played a funny YouTube video in which a woman was rapping, her head flailing. 

“That’s Katie,” Angela said. They both laughed as they watched the video during a Zoom interview with Fox News Digital. 

Angela Ferguson (left) showing a funny video of a girl rapping along with a song like Katie does during an interview with Fox News Digital. Nicole (right) laughed and responded, “That’s exactly what she looks like … I’m just like, ‘Oh my gosh.’'”

“That’s precisely what she seems to be like,” said Nicole, laughing at the video. “When I’m driving round, (Katie) is doing stuff like one thing like that, and I’m similar to, ‘Oh my gosh.’'”

Katie is one year older than Nicole. They were temporarily living apart after Nicole lived with her dad and Katie lived with her mom, but the four siblings always hung out. 

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And Nicole and Katie grew closer as they got older, Nicole said.

“From the time I used to be like a youngster on, we received very shut. We at all times had a lot in frequent,” said Nicole, who described their fun nights out dancing and goofing around. 

Katie Ferguson and her mom before Katie disappeared. (Angela Ferguson)

Then Katie became a mom, and Nicole said she saw her “unimaginable” transformation into a “nice mother who would do something for her youngsters.”

Nicole mentioned a song that went something like, “Everything can be alright.” It was a sentimental song between the two of them, and it popped up on her Spotify the other day.

She couldn’t stop thinking about her big sister.

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What scares both Angela and Nicole now is how Katie’s kids are going to grow up, possibly without a mother and a dad who might be in jail. They’re worried about them reading things on the internet about their parents.

But those little ones — if Katie is never found as her family fears — will be what carries on her legacy, Angela said.

Nicole recalled their last text exchange. Katie wrote, “I really like you,” and Nicole replied, “I really like you too.”

The family has set up accounts at Big Horn Federal Bank and U.S. Bank under the Katie Ferguson Memorial Fund to go toward any searches or memorials in the near future.