Scotswoman goes missing at Memphis Elvis tribute

FEARS are growing for a Scottish mother who has been missing for a week after travelling to the United States to attend an Elvis Presley convention.

Friends said last night that Gerrie Lawrie has not been seen since Monday, 15 August, when she vanished from the centre of Memphis, Tennessee.

Ms Lawrie, who is in her late thirties and lives in Aberdeenshire, travelled to the convention alone.

She was last seen by Gene Barksdale – a retired sheriff who had been a friend of Elvis – with whom she had dinner.

Mr Barksdale, 89, who became friends with Ms Lawrie after meeting her at another Elvis event, is said to have walked her to her car before she left for a candlelit vigil at the late singer’s Graceland home.

But she never appeared at the vigil and the alarm was raised after she missed her flight home to Scotland.

Ms Lawrie did not return her hired car to the dealer and did not turn up in Nashville, where she had been due to spend more time with fellow Elvis fans.

She has also failed to answer anxious texts and phone calls from friends and family.

Ms Lawrie’s partner, Roger Williams, who had been with her son earlier, was understood to be on his way to Memphis last night. It is not known whether her son went with him.

A missing persons report has been lodged with the Memphis police and an appeal has been launched by Ms Lawrie’s friends on Facebook.

Andrew Hearn, a friend who runs the Essential Elvis UK fan group to which Ms Lawrie belongs, said: “She met Gene Barksdale at one of our events last August and they stayed in touch.

“After they had dinner on Monday he walked her to her car safely. It was mid-evening and she had arranged to meet friends at the vigil, but she never made it.

“Thousands of people come for the vigil. The fact that she didn’t attend it really does raise a red flag.

“She’s a good-looking young lady and she was by herself in Memphis, which is a pretty rough town.”

Writing on his Facebook page yesterday, he added: “Things are looking bleak for Gerrie.

“My last report stated that she was last seen on Wednesday, but it turns out that it was actually Monday 15th.

“She did not even make the candlelight vigil. Let’s hope for a positive outcome, and soon.”

Caroline Pratt, a fellow Elvis fan and friend of Ms Lawrie, set up a Facebook page appealing for information.

Ms Pratt wrote: “She was staying alone at the Cedar Hotel on Brooks Road, and she attended many events during Elvis Week.

“I am a very good friend of Gerrie’s and I last saw her on Monday afternoon, and she has not replied to my text messages in days.

“I hope and pray for her safety and I really hope she has not been harmed.”

Thousands of Elvis fans flock to Memphis every year for the week-long homage to mark the singer’s death on 16 August, 1977.