Missing Person's Day " Giving Us Back Hope " 2014

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ALBANY, N.Y. -- "It's pretty much like she fell off the face of the earth," said Kyla Smith.

It's been four years, and she's received no answers, no solid leads, and no conclusive evidence of what happened to her cousin, Ashley.

"It's just the wondering where she is, how can anybody hurt her, and why anyone would hurt her," said Smith.

Almost everyday, she works to solve the mystery behind Ashley's disappearance.

"There been many nights where I stay up on the Internet looking for resources and looking into people I last knew she was with," said Smith.

With so many dead ends, it's a heartbreaking grind. But Saturday, Kyla took some comfort knowing she's not alone in her quest.

Hundreds gathered at the New York State Museum for Missing Persons Day. "The Center of HOPE" has hosted the event for thirteen years, allowing families across the country to find solace through their struggles and strength for their search.

"It's just really a way to get support, get ideas from others about how to get Ashley's face out there," said Smith.

State legislators, motivational speakers, and law enforcement officials encouraged family members to keep trying as they develop more tools to facilitate the search for missing persons.

"We're going to try and build that cold case unit for next year. That pilot program to go after and see if we can track down, and do everything we can to find their loved ones," said Assemblyman Jim Tedisco.

"I'll have a website up and running in a couple of weeks. We'll have a link where people can provide information about a missing person," said Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo.

The programs are beacons of hope for people like Smith, who's still waiting for the day when she'll see her cousin once again.

"What else do you have when you have a missing loved one? You have hope or you have nothing," Smith said.

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