Mom of Three Vanishes Without a Trace

It was Renee's father, Rick Pretz, who first reported his daughter missing on the morning of Saturday, Jan. 3. Pretz said that he last spoke to his daughter the evening of Jan. 1.

Renee Pernice, 35, was last seen by her husband, Shon Pernice, on the morning of Jan. 2, when Pernice said his wife left and he "doesn't remember where he went," according to police.

(Courtesy Kansas City Police Department )

Renee's mother, Linda Lockwood, told ABCNews.com that the past few days have been "heartbreaking."

"It's been a very emotional time for us because we know that our daughter would not just leave her children and just take off on her own," said Lockwood, who last spoke to Renee on Dec. 27.

Lockwood said that her daughter had sounded "well" during their conversation.

"She has always been just a wonderful child," said Lockwood. "We just want her back."

Renee's cell phone was found 15 miles from her home on Sunday by a vagrant, said Lockhart, who has since been combing the area for additional clues. Lockhart declined to specify what, if any, information was garnered from the cell phone.

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"We haven't been able to find any connection that Renee has to the area of town [where her phone was found]," said Lockhart.

ABCNews.com was unable to reach Renee's family for comment – Lockhart said that they had been out searching for their daughter alongside authorities – but Pretz told the Kansas City Star newspaper that he was concerned for his daughter's safety.

"We fear something bad has happened. It is unbelievable to feel she walked off and left her children," Pretz told the paper.

Pernice had recently returned from a tour in Iraq where he served as a medic, according to police. In a July interview with a local TV news station he had discussed how July 4th fireworks had rattled him.

"Over there it was very probable that that could happen to you, that you may be blown up and killed especially just driving around Iraq in a convoy situation," Pernice said in the interview with Fox4. "There's people that hate us very much over there."

According to police, Lockhart said that Renee had filed for divorce in 2005 from Pernice but had reconciled in January 2007.

Pernice has been working as a firefighter in a nearby suburb since his return from Iraq.