Vice President Mike Pence tells family of Mollie Tibbetts: 'You're on the hearts of every American'

Vice President Mike Pence said during a visit to Iowa on Wednesday that he is hopeful Mollie Tibbetts will return home, telling her family that "you’re on the hearts of every American."

Pence vowed the administration will continue to provide federal support in the search for the 20-year-old missing college student, who was last seen on July 18 in the small town of Brooklyn.

Investigators said Wednesday that they are focusing on five areas in and near Brooklyn. They are examining her boyfriend's home in Brooklyn; a carwash; a truck stop; a farm 3 miles from downtown Brooklyn; and another farm 6 miles away.

Authorities have asked anyone who was in any of those areas when Tibbetts disappeared to leave tips on a website if they remember anything. Anyone with information about her disappearance should contact the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office at (641) 623-5679 or send an email to tips@poweshiekcosheriff.com.

A reward fund has grown to more than $366,000, and a website launched recently to help in the search.

Pence said during his speech in Des Moines that "we will continue to work and we will continue to pay for Mollie's safe return," according to the Register newspaper.

She is "in the prayers of millions of Americans and she’ll remain there until she comes home," Pence told the crowd, according to the paper. He said President Trump has also offered his support.

Mollie's father Rob Tibbetts met with Pence, who told him that he spoke with FBI Director Christopher Wray about the search for Mollie.

Rob Tibbetts told the Register that Pence was sincere in his concern and that the meeting was above politics.

“He agreed with that wholeheartedly,” Mollie’s father told the Register.

With News Wire Services