Mother, 26, missing after leaving for store

Jen Lawson

Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2003 | 11:23 a.m.

Metro Police are investigating the disappearance of a 26-year-old woman who left her apartment near Silverado Ranch Boulevard and Maryland Parkway on Thursday to buy cigarettes.

Leslie Fender's estranged husband, Adam Fender, told police his wife left their 7-month-old son, Race, with him about 10:30 a.m. Thursday when she left to go to an Albertson's about a block away from the apartment, police said.

Twelve hours later, Adam Fender reported to police that his wife was missing.

Her gray 1998 Ford Ranger pickup truck with a Nevada license plate, 564JFJ, is also missing, Lt. Brad Simpson said.

This is uncharacteristic of Fender, and police believe she may be a victim of foul play, Simpson said.

"She had been having some marital difficulties and she had left home in the past, but not since the baby was born," he said. "We're concerned about her."

Sgt. Tom Wagner said Fender was very attached to her son.

"It's very unusual for her to leave her baby even for even 15 minutes," he said.

Fender is 5-feet 4-inches tall and weighs 150 pounds. She has blond hair and green eyes. She was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and jeans and had a tattoo of a shark on her left shoulder, a C-section scar and scars on her left ankle, upper lip and right forearm.

She was wearing earrings, a wedding ring, ring with her son's name on it and a navel ring.

Anyone who might have seen Fender or her vehicle is asked to call Metro's missing persons detail at 229-2907 or 229-LOST.