Mother of Four Missing in New York State

Aug. 19, 2004 -- The search for a mother of four missing for more than a week continues as a police officer has been placed on administrative leave after acknowledging a relationship with her.

Yolanda Bindics, 25, of Jamestown, N.Y., was last seen leaving her job at a Family Dollar Store about 8:20 p.m. on Aug. 10. She told her brother, who was watching her daughters, that she was going to stop to pick up milk on her way home but never arrived. Her car was found the next day parked at an Arby's restaurant less than half a mile away from the store.

A Jamestown police officer has been placed on administrative leave after admitting to having a relationship with Bindics, a. police spokesman said.

The officer, whose name was not released, will remain on leave until investigators can determine the nature of that relationship, the spokesman said. FBI agents will interview the officer.

Police said the officer is not considered a suspect in Bindics' disappearance.

Searching for Clues

Police have said Bindics' disappearance is suspicious.

"We're all really worried," her sister, Christine Bindics, told The Associated Press.

Bindics described her sister as happy and said she enjoyed outings with her children, the most recent one to a Chautauqua County amusement park the week before she disappeared.

"She loves those girls more than life itself," Christine Bindics said.

About 50 family members and other volunteers searched the area around where Bindics' car was found for several hours on Sunday but found nothing to indicate what might have happened to her. Police had already searched the same area as divers checked a nearby river and search dogs scoured a local landfill.

Her daughters, ages 1, 3, 5 and 8, are staying with relatives.

Bindics is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, with blond hair and hazel eyes. She weighs about 100-115 pounds. She was last seen wearing khaki pants and a black polo shirt with the Family Dollar logo.