Hope for Holly: Missing Woman's Family, Friends Haven't Given Up

By Jack Tobias

Just a few days ago, two Lower Macungie women were missing in separate cases that are not connected.

But on Friday (Dec. 20), police announced that one of them -- Alexis Doll -- was found safe in South Carolina.

Doll had disappeared Tuesday night (Dec. 17) after driving from her father's home on the 4800 block of East Texas Road in a blue 2002 Acura RSX.

With Doll found, that left one woman still missing. Holly Grim, 41, was last seen outside her home in the Red Maples Mobile Home Park on Grange Road. That was a month ago -- Friday, Nov. 22, a dark date etched in Americans' minds as the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas 50 years ago.

State police Lt. Vincent D'Angelo said Friday -- at the same time he announced that Doll had been found -- there are no new developments in the Grim case. Grim did not show up for work on Nov. 22, and no one has heard from or seen her since.

D'Angelo also said the Grim and Doll cases are not connected.

As for the Grim investigation, D'Angelo said "we'd love to hear from people" with knowledge of Grim's whereabouts. He urged those people to call the Fogelsville barracks at 610-395-1438.

Grim is 5-feet-3, 100 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. State police said previously they have not identified a vehicle associated with her.

After a month of physical searches in the area, as well as postings on social media, Grim's family and friends remain hopeful she will be found soon.

Grim's son, Zach Grim, has created a Facebook page for his mother. He posted the following:

No matter what gets in my way
As long as there's still life in me
No matter what, remember you know I'll always come for you

Here's a sample of postings on Zach Grim's page from various people:

• "I think of you every day, all day, praying you are warm and fed. There is such an empty spot in the lives of your family and friends. Love you and miss you!"
• "Sometimes in life we take a leap of faith. Remember, the leap is not about getting from one side to the other. It's simply about taking the leap....and trusting the air, the universal breath, will support your wings so that you may soar."
• "Holly, day in and day out I bang my head against the wall tryin to figure out where you could be!! Why can't we all just have some sort of sign to point us towards you!!! Just one is all we need!! I am too a race fan and I can't help but wonder if maybe I have sat next [to] you or stood in line behind you!! My wish is for you to get home very soon and that maybe this year at the races we could sit next to each other and talk!!! Praying for you to please come home soon!!! Stay strong and know that none of us will give up!!!!"
• The same person wrote: "As frustration is setting in trying to find you Holly, know that none of us will give up the search!!! Please GOD give our tired souls a sign of where Holly is!! And let us get her home to her son Zach and to her family!!! Just a small sign is all that I am asking for!! Praying for you all the time Holly and can't wait to see your shining face when you come home!!!
• "To the person Holding Holly ... How can You live with Yourself? You need to set Holly Free. We will not give up the search till we find her Tell us where she is at . If anyone has the tiniest information where Holly is at do the right thing and call the police no matter if you think you are right or wrong it can be the breaking lead."

Two women who haven't given up hope are the mothers of young men who bowl with Zach Grim at the New Jordan Lanes in Whitehall.

Michele Palulis and Heidi Unterberg have organized a bowling benefit for Holly Grim's family on Saturday, Feb. 8 from 1-4pm at the New Jordan Lanes. They also have a Facebook page dedicated to the event.

Feb. 8 may at first seem a long time away considering Grim already has been missing for a month. But Unterberg explained there are logistical reasons for not holding the event sooner.

For instance, she said, Feb. 8 is the soonest that the bowling lanes were available. Also, Palulis wants to hold a Chinese auction during the event and wants to drum up more interest to get maximum turnout. And then there is the holiday season right now, when fewer people may be able to participate in a benefit.

Money raised will go to Grim's family to help pay bills and to defray the costs of searches that have been held since she disappeared.

"We're just hoping she's going to be found safe and sound," Palulis told Patch.

She said she is an acquaintance but not a close friend of Holly's. But she has talked to close friends. Their gut feeling?

"She's still alive and they're going to find her."