It's a missing person case that the Allen County Sheriff's Department says has stayed on the forefront on its investigations for nine years.

23-year-old Peggy Sue Ashley disappeared back in 2000, but authorities say their mission to find her hasn't ended.

Detectives working the case say their investigation has taken them to Hart County and as far away as Indiana.

They do suspect foul play in Ashley's disappearance and they're hoping to bring a resolution to the woman's mother, who still to this day is just trying to find closure.

"It's really hard. You don't know where your daughter is. She's missing, but you don't know where she is," said Barbara Ashley, the mother of Peggy Sue Ashley.

For Peggy Sue Ashley's mother, Barbara, the past nine years have been tough.

"Every time some remains come up on TV you wonder, 'Could it be Peggy?'"

Speaking by phone, the Hardin County resident remembers talking to her daughter just two weeks before her disappearance.

"She was happy. She seemed really happy, but Peggy was having a hard time. She had three children and with no help with three children she was having a hard time," Barbara Ashley said.

A sketch shows what Peggy Sue might look like today at the age of 32.

But back in July of 2000 was the last time she was seen.

"We make sure that we leave no rock unturned until we find out what happened to Ms. Ashley," said Sheriff Sam Carter, with the Allen County Sheriff's Dept.

Allen County authorities say the case is solvable and over the years they have generated a number of leads.

"There's people in the community who know what happened. There's been talk I'm sure and I believe there's people who know something they can tell us," said Detective John Rose, who is investigating the case.

Detective Rose says it's time Peggy Sue's case comes to an end.

It would be an investigation solved and closure for a family.

"I would ask the community to come forward, if anyone knows anything about what happened to our daughter, because right now we know nothing," Barbara Ashley said.

Both Detective Rose and Barbara Ashley say they know it's likely Peggy Sue is no longer alive.

Barbara says there's no way her daughter would've left her three young children for this long.