Missing woman's friend last one to see her, recounts their time together

LATROBE, Pa. — While police investigate the disappearance of Cassandra Gross, her family and friends are holding onto hope.

"It's ripping me apart," Mary Ann Dicks said. "She was just in a really happy place, nothing out of the ordinary."

RELATED HEADLINE: Police search home of missing Latrobe woman's boyfriend

Dicks was one of the last people to see Gross before she vanished Saturday.

The Westmoreland County woman was reported missing Monday and on Wednesday, her burned out car was discovered in a Greensburg park.

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Thursday, Pennsylvania State Police searched two homes connected to an estranged boyfriend.

People in Latrobe are posting flyers with Gross' pictures, hoping someone comes forward with helpful information.

RAW VIDEO: Friend recounts last time she saw missing Westmoreland Co. woman

"I don't want to give up on her yet," Dicks said. "She was bubbly, she was telling me about she had just come back from her son's house for Easter."

The next day, Gross, who went by Cassie, was not heard from again.

She also never showed up at her mother's house in Latrobe.

By Monday, her blind dog was found on the side of Beatty County Road.

Channel 11 spoke to the attorney for Gross' boyfriend, who said his client has nothing to hide.

"I'm still holding onto a little bit of hope that maybe whoever did this is keeping her somewhere, maybe she's still alive," Dicks said.

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