D.C. woman missing for more than a week

Butler, a program analyst with the Environmental Protection Agency, keeps in close contact with her sister and 76-year-old mother.

Family members tell Channel 7 it is out of the ordinary for them not to hear from her. The last time they talked to her was Thursday. She told her mother that she and her boyfriend would be going out for Valentine's Day. Her boss and a family member received e-mails from her Friday, Channel 7 reports.

"It is unusual for someone who has a normal routine to just go missing," D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier says.

While police don't have any reason to suspect foul play, Lanier says they've added a criminal investigations team.

Lanier says police have also been looking for Butler in neighboring jurisdictions.

"Even if it appeared to be a normal routine activity, if you have seen Ms. Butler anywhere or had any contact with her since Feb. 12, we're asking you to please come forward," Lanier says. "No detail is too small to help this investigation."

Butler's mother, Thelma Butler, says her daughter always lets her know where she's going.

Family members are so concerned they sent Butler a fake text message saying her mother in the hospital, Channel 7 reports. The text message was not answered.

Police have searched her home and have watched the surveillance video from her home security system. It last shows her on camera at 9:45 p.m. Feb. 12 talking with her boyfriend. Her boyfriend is seen going back to the home several times.

The boyfriend tells Channel 7 he's worried. He says he returned to the home to see whether she had come back. He tells Channel 7 he's cooperating with police.

Butler is described as a dark-complexioned black woman who is 5-foot-3 and 120 pounds. She has brown eyes and brown hair.

Anyone with information about Butler's whereabouts is asked to call police at 202-727-9099.

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