A grieving mother-of-three who lost her only two sons in tragic circumstances is desperately appealing for the public to help her find her only daughter, who has been missing for more than six weeks.
Sue Quackenbush, 63, says her daughter, Danielle Lopez, 37, disappeared under suspicious circumstances on April 13th at approximately 9:10 a.m. after she was last seen at the Wawa store at 4 Route 72 in Vincenttown, New Jersey.
Her mysterious disappearance is the latest tragedy to befall Quackenbush. She had already suffered the death of her eldest son, Eric Quackenbush, who committed suicide on Christmas Day in 2015, and her second son, Michael, a Marine who had just returned from Afghanistan, in a car accident in Florida 10 months later.
“Danielle is the kindest, most loving, caring, kind and family-oriented person you could ever want to meet. She loved her family and her friends so much,” Quackenbush told Fox News Digital.
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On the left is the missing Danielle Lopez, on the top right is Danielle Lopez and her two brothers, and on the bottom left is her car. (Courtesy of Sue Quackenbush, New Jersey Police Department)
Quackenbush, who lives in West Chester, Pennsylvania, said Daniel Lopez cared for her grandfather until he died of COVID-19 in 2020. Lopez’s father, Quackenbush’s ex-husband, died of a heart attack about a month later.
“It’s very tragic and one thing leads to another. It’s like the Kennedys without money. The same Kennedys without money,” Quackenbush said. “She lost two brothers, her father and her grandfather in a short period of time. She’s had a hard time.”
Lopez’s disappearance has left Quackenbush on the brink of losing all three of her children, and earlier this week she posted an emotional plea for help on Facebook, speaking out about the latest “unimaginable” grief that has hit her family.
New Jersey State Police said Danielle’s 2008 blue Hyundai Accent was found “broken down” about 13 miles away on Lost Lane Road in Penn State Forest in Woodland Township, and they posted a call for information about her whereabouts on Wednesday.
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Lopez (left) leaving a restaurant and a collage of Lopez provided by his family (right). (New Jersey State Police on the left, Sue Quackenbush on the right)
Quackenbush told Fox News Digital that Lopez’s car was found the day she disappeared, but they have no idea what happened to her. Her mother said they haven’t heard much information from police, but they don’t have much hope she will ever be found safe.
“The reason I refer to my daughter in the past tense in my statement is because police have reason to believe that harm came to her,” she said, adding that police did not provide her with further details.
Quackenbush said she believes someone was with Lopez when she was last seen leaving the Wawa on security footage, but that her daughter did not act in any way that indicated she was in immediate danger.
“She’s coming out of the store with a smile on her face, she’s well-dressed, she’s got a handbag. She’s functional.”
Quackenbush said he has been desperately searching for his daughter, putting up “missing person” signs around the neighborhood. “I’ve gone to where her car was found, I’ve been to campgrounds, and I’ve been looking for her for about six weeks now.”
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Lopez was last seen at the Wawa store at 4 Route 72 in Vincenttown. (Google Maps)
Despite the bleak news, Quackenbush is relying on her faith to get through her latest challenges.
“God has helped me through this and I am blessed to be their mother forever. Some mothers don’t keep their kids for long and some mothers hurt their kids so I’m going to say I am blessed,” she said. “I just need a miracle and everyone’s prayers and wishes.”
Anyone with information about Lopez is asked to contact the New Jersey State Police Missing Persons Unit at (609) 882-2000 ext. 2554 or email missingpinformation@njsp.gov. Anonymous tips are also welcome, police said.
Quackenbush added that a Facebook group called “The Pine Barrens” is also assisting in the search effort and anyone wanting to volunteer can contact them.
Daniel Lopez’s Missing Persons Poster (Courtesy of Sue Quackenbush)
