Mother asks for help to find missing daughter

ROSSLYN, Virginia (CNN) -- The mother of a missing woman who was working as an intern for the federal Bureau of Prisons pleaded Thursday on CNN's Larry King Live for the safe return of her daughter.

Susan Levy, whose daughter Chandra, 24, has not been seen for two weeks, said she last spoke with Chandra by telephone April 27, and received an e-mail from her dated May 1.

"My thoughts have been scary, [but] I try to look with faith that I can have her return home," Levy said. "That's where I'm asking people throughout America to help me out in a sense of finding her and bringing Chandra back home to her family who loves her very much."

When asked about reports that Chandra had a romantic involvement with Rep. Gary Condit, D-California, who is from the Levys' hometown of Modesto, Mrs. Levy said she was "hurt."

"Of course I am hurt, and as a mother I'm not only hurt, I'm scared," she said.

VIDEO Chandra Levy's mother, Susan, talks with CNN about her daughter's disappearance (May 17) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   TRANSCRIPT Larry King Live: Susan Levy discusses her daughter's disappearance The Point with Greta Van Susteren: Jennifer Baker discusses her friendship with Chandra Levy

Mrs. Levy said she believes her daughter had only a professional relationship with Condit and had sought advice from him about becoming an FBI agent. Chandra apparently visited Condit's office frequently.

Following Chandra's disappearance, Condit issued a statement saying "Chandra is a great person and a good friend."

A Condit spokesman denied that the intern and the congressman were romantically involved. Police sources told CNN that Condit has been interviewed by local detectives.

A friend of Chandra's, Jennifer Baker, told CNN's The Point with Greta Van Susteren that Chandra did, in fact, visit Condit's office frequently.

"The reason she stopped by the congressman's office was because I interned there and she would come to meet me for lunch," Baker said.

She said Chandra told her she was dating someone in the FBI, but she didn't know who it was. Baker said she can't think of any reason her friend would mysteriously disappear.

Police have searched Chandra's apartment and removed her cell phone and laptop computer. Those items were sent to the FBI lab so that records of calls and e-mails can be retrieved. Condit said he requested FBI involvement in the case last week, and he donated $10,000 to a $25,000 reward fund for information leading to Chandra's return.

Before she disappeared, Chandra had just finished her internship and was preparing to return home to California for her graduation. She was last seen at a Washington gym April 30. The next day, friends went to her apartment and found her identification card, credit cards and packed suitcases.

Police have said they found no evidence of foul play in the apartment.

Meanwhile, Levy's parents have met with Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer of California, and have gone to Washington to talk to law enforcement officials to help in the search for their daughter.

CNN Correspondent Bob Franken contributed to this report.