Tanya Shannon, Mom of Four Kids, Disappears After Holiday Party

Dec. 7, 2010 — -- Footprints in a snowbank are the only clues for officers searching for a Chicago woman who vanished after walking away from a late night car crash that left her husband dead in the driver's seat.

A massive manhunt is underway for Tanya Shannon, a 40-year-old mother of four, who has been missing since early Sunday morning when authorities from the LaSalle County Sheriff's office located her crashed car on the side of a rural road.

In the driver's seat of the car was Shannon's dead husband, 41-year-old Dale Shannon, according to Sheriff Tom Templeton.

"She and her husband were at a company Christmas party Saturday night. They left the party heading to a family's house and on the way had a traffic-related accident in which Mr. Shannon was killed," Templeton told ABC News. "From the evidence that we've seen, Shannon was able to get out of the vehicle and go up to the roadway."

"From there we have no idea where she went," he said.

Templeton said that while alcohol was available at the party it does appear that the car crash was an accident. Further toxicology reports are being ordered, he said.

Footprints from a "slipper-like" shoe were found leading away from the car and up to the road, said Templeton, and one of the slippers was also located by the first responders.

Inside the car, a pair of high-heeled shoes were also found.

"Her family tells us that she was a loving mother and very committed to her children," said Templeton. "Not being in contact with her family is completely out of character for her."

Shannon's children range in age from 3 to 15.

"We have to consider that someone might have picked her up," he said. "She just seems to have disappeared."

The search resumed today for the third day, Templeton said, and about 50 people have joined the rescue effort.