uncertainty surrounding her disappearance, hoping to find her body so they can finally say goodbye.

Family friend Denisse Carrera described the heartbreak surrounding the search.

 Her words exactly were like, Oh my God, I didn't get to say goodbye to my mom. He really just threw my mom like an animal,  Carrera said.

Community volunteers have continued supporting the family through searches and prayer as authorities investigate.

Denton County Crime Stoppers is offering a $2,000 reward for information as the search for Perez continues.

For Arrieta's loved ones, the discovery of her wallet represents a possible step toward finding her and getting answers about what happened.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.