Impounded car may have evidence in Rachel Cooke case

GEORGETOWN, Texas -- (KXAN) -- A vehicle impounded by the Williamson County Sheriff is tied to three or four persons of interest in the case of Rachel Cooke, the 19-year-old who went missing in 2002.

Rachel Cooke went for her usual 4-mile run one morning while visiting her parents' house in Georgetown. She was never seen again. Witnesses at the time said they saw a white passenger sports car in the area.

Sheriff Robert Chody said a Pontiac Trans Am matching that description was found in Dallas and will be carefully combed over to search for DNA evidence.

CWD: Crime Watch Daily investigates disappearance of Rachel Cooke

"I'm not a DNA expert, but if there's evidence in this vehicle, we feel confident it could still be good," Chody said. He added the car was found after someone provided a tip to law enforcement after a past media event.

While there have been numerous tips over the years, none have helped the sheriff's office or her family find her. That doesn't mean they've stopped looking -- Chody said they're following up on leads -- or stopped remembering.

Last summer, deputies began excavating land near Liberty Hill in connection with the case. After several hours of digging, deputies left empty-handed.

There is a $100,000 reward still on the table for information in Cooke's case.

The FBI and Williamson County Sheriff's Office asks individuals with any information regarding Rachel Louise Cooke to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov or contact your local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.