Police are searching for a missing Palmetto woman, and they say it’s her dogs that let the woman's friends know something wasn’t right.

  • Tricia Freeman, 47, has 15 puppies, 2 large dogs
  • Freeman's husband passed away recently
  • Freeman's car found abandoned in Ashland, Kentucky

Tricia Freeman has 15 puppies and two large dogs. Her friends admit it may seem like a lot of pets for some people.

But the furry canines let her friends know she was missing and possibly in trouble.

“She knew every one of them by their name and how they barked and stuff, so that’s why I say she would never leave them alone,” said friend Mark Cordevant.

Cordevant said Freeman didn’t show any signs of trouble the last time he talked to her.

“We talked to her Monday night," he said. "My wife talked to her at 10:30 and then on Tuesday she was supposed to show up at work to get her husband’s tools -- he passed away. And she didn’t show up at work to get the tools, so I called her then, didn’t get an answer. I called her later that day didn’t get an answer. My wife called her and we thought she was just working."

But when Cordevant stopped by her Palmetto home, there was no sign of the 47-year-old and her car was gone too.

“When I drove up the gate here in the middle was bent like that, and the gate was laying out the outside tucked in this way, pushed against it,” he said.

People close to Freeman think foul play may be involved. Police have yet to confirm that, but homicide detectives did show up to her home Friday afternoon.

Investigators are currently trying to retrace Freeman’s steps. They said she hasn’t shown up for work at a Sarasota IHoP.

On Thursday, Palmetto Police were alerted that Freeman’s car was discovered abandoned in a park in Ashland, Kentucky.

“We’ve also subpoenaed phone records and bank records because a lot of times they’ll tell the tale about where somebody has been," said Palmetto Police Chief Scott Tyler. "The car may have some sort of GPS device or On-Star, so we’re anxious to learn that from the authorities up there."

The chief said Freeman has no obvious ties to Kentucky. He called the finding of her abandoned car "disturbing."

As efforts to find Freeman continue, her friends are stepping in to take care of her 17 dogs. They plan on putting some of them up for temporary adoption, though Cordevant said he's holding out hope that Freeman will come back safely to bring the dogs home.

Anyone with any information about Tricia Freeman or where she might be are urged to contact the Palmetto Police Department at 941-723-4587.