Search for Misti Whitfield: Family members fear missing Fla. mother has been murdered

(CBS) TAMPA - Misti Whitfield, a 35-year-old mother from Tampa, has been missing for over a month and family members say they fear she has been murdered, according to CBS affiliate WTSP.

The station said Tampa police are continuing to investigate the missing persons case. 

According to WTSP, Whitfield's family hired Private Detective Brad Sparkman to try and find her. Police and Sparkman agree that the outlook isn't good.

"I understand the family is hopeful, and I was hopeful when we started out; I was at 50-50," Sparkman told WTSP. "That quickly went to 90-10, and approximately two days ago, that went to zero."

Whitfield was last seen at an intersection in the Tampa area. Her parents said that she has disappeared before but that she would always contact her family to tell them where she was, reported WTSP.

Sparkman told the station he is still pursuing leads in the case and that he is offering a $25,000 reward.