Detroit, Mich Bianca Jones 2

[meme]

Amber Alert for Little Bianca Jones

Dec 2, 2011

DETROIT, Mich. (My TV20 News at 10) --- An Amber Alert has been issued for two year old Bianca Jones after her father told police his vehicle was carjacked this morning in Detroit with his daughter inside.

Bianca is African-American, weighs twenty-five pounds and her hair is braided.

The car has been recovered but their is no sign of Bianca.

The suspect is described as a six foot one hundred and ninety pound black male wearing a baseball cap with some facial hair and medium skin tone.

He's believed to between twenty-five to thirty years old.

If you have any information on this case you're asked to call Detroit Police Department at 313-596-2170.

www.tv20detroit.com/news/local/Help-Find-Bianca--134919738.html?m=y&smobile=y&c=y

[meme]

Amber Alert: Police search for Detroit toddler; man says daughter was kidnapped during carjacking

Dec. 2, 2011

An Amber Alert has been issued for a 2-year-old Detroit girl who was reported kidnapped during a carjacking this morning.

According to police, Deandre Lane, 32, said he was in his silver Mercury Marquis with his daughter in the back when he was carjacked at Brush and Custer at 10:10 a.m. Police Sgt. Eren Stephens said Lane was leaving his home on Custer when the incident occurred.

Within 10 minutes, the car was found at Beaubien and Philadelphia, less than a mile away from where the car was stolen -- but the child was gone, police said.

Police said the girl’s name is Bianca Jones. She is black, about 25 pounds, with braids in her hair and was wearing either a pink or purple coat with rhinestones or beads on it, pink shoes and pink tights.

Officers are mobilized in an alley west of Beaubien at Philadelphia, where the vehicle was found. About 75 officers -- including Police Chief Ralph Godbee Jr. -- are searching in vacant homes in the area. A police tracking dog was used, but was unable to find the carjackers.

Police said the search area is from Woodward to the west to I-75 to the east to Grand Boulevard to the south to Pingree to the north.

Mounted police officers also have joined the effort. There are currently two officers on horseback, with two more on the way. Sitting on his horse at the intersection of Beaubian and East Philadelphia, Sgt. Erik Eide says they have been patrolling the alleys in the area, something that is their specialty. They can get into the alleys easier than officers in squad cars.

Stephens said the carjackers told the father there was a problem with his taillight, and when he got out to look, they stole his vehicle.

According to police, two people were involved in the carjacking. One is described as a black man, 6-foot-tall, 185 pounds, wearing a black top and black pants, with a mustache and beard that resembled a 5 o’clock shadow, police said.

The man was last seen traveling northbound on John R near East Grand Boulevard in a small red car, possibly with front-end damage, according to the Amber Alert.

The other suspect was driving another vehicle, police said.

The girl’s mother, Rakida Mitchell, was not in the vehicle.

Both parents are being questioned by police.

tinyurl.com/7oj7gkj

[meme]

December 03. 2011

Missing toddler's family pleads for her safe return

Detroit—Bella Jones, 7, burst into tears and begged for the return of her little sister Saturday when she stood before reporters, microphones and cameras at a police department press conference.

"I just want you to bring my sister back home," the girl said before turning to be embraced by her mother and other family members who appeared with Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee Jr., to plead for the safe return of 2-year-old Bianca Jones.

The girl has been missing since shortly before 10 a.m. Friday, when carjackers allegedly forced her father, Deandre Lane, out of the vehicle at gunpoint at Brush and Carter streets, just north of East Grand Boulevard. The 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis was recovered a brief time and a short distance away —but without Bianca.

"If you've seen something, say something," Godbee said in a personal appeal to potential witnesses. "If someone has Bianca and you are afraid of what will happen, I suggest you drop her off at a police precinct or a church or call me. I'll come out and pick her up."

The chief also emphasized that an anonymous Detroit area businessman has boosted the usual $2,500 reward offered by CrimeStoppers of Michigan for information in such a case to $17,500. Anyone with information is asked to call [phone] or Crime Stoppers at (800) Speak-Up.

Police believe two people may have been involved in the carjacking. A composite artist's sketch was issued based on Lane's description of the main suspect: A black male, 25-30 years old with a medium complexion and about 6 feet tall and weighing 190 pounds. He was wearing a black shirt, black pants and had a 5 o'clock shadow. He also has a brown and black baseball-style hat. Bianca was wearing a purple jacket with gold trim, pink tights and pink shoes. She's described as being 2-foot-5, 25 pounds and having a light complexion.

An Amber Alert was issued for the girl who turned 2 on Nov. 26.

"We only want Bianca back safe and sound," the mother, Banika Jones, said Saturday. "Just take her to a church or a drugstore. Please bring Bianca home."

Lane has been in police custody since Friday, and has taken a lie detector test, but Godbee declined to call him a suspect. He also declined to reveal the result of the test.

The chief said the father has been cooperative as his story is being checked. Lane is being held on an outstanding warrant for an unrelated matter "in another jurisdiction," Godbee said.

"There is some anomaly in this case. The circumstances are atypical," Godbee said. "But it does not mitigate the fact we don't know where Bianca is. Issue one is find Bianca, get her home. Issue two is investigation."

Godbee said he knew this to be "high quality family," because he had traveled with the missing girl's uncle, Olando Jones, 20, to a Washington, D.C., summit on youth violence prevention.

"Right now, I feel really numb about the whole situation," said Olando Jones, who described the feeling of meeting in Washington with leaders to discuss strategies for keeping young people out of trouble in crime-ridden cities, then returning to Detroit, "Where it's all going on."

"It's just never hit this close to home," Olando Jones said. "When it really happens to your family, it takes on a whole new meaning. You want everyone to jump immediately to your help … I'm begging, please. If this was your child you would want someone to bring her home."

Up to 75 Detroit Police officers including members of the department's special operations, canine and horse-mounted units were searching vacant homes and looking in vehicles and questioning neighbors in the area where the car was found abandoned Friday.

Simon Shaykhet, spokesman for the FBI in Detroit, confirmed Saturday that the federal agency also is working with Detroit Police in the investigation. He said the police department is leading the search for the girl, and declined to describe how FBI agents are involved.

"We are talking to everyone, questioning everyone," said Sgt. Eren Stephens, spokeswoman for Detroit Police.

Late Friday night, Banika Jones sat anxiously by the window of her North End neighborhood home, peering out every so often to look at the congestion of police and news vans that were parked across the street.

"I keep thinking I'm going to wake up with her poking me with a straw, asking me for her fruit cup," Jones said, a listless gaze on her face, of the little girl affectionately called Bacon by family members.

www.detnews.com/article/20111203/METRO01/112030367/1361/Mom-just-wants-baby-home-as-police-continue-search-for-toddler

[meme]

Reward offered related to missing Detroit girl, 2

Dec. 3, 2011

DETROIT —Detroit police have announced a $17,500 reward to help find a 2-year-old girl whose father reported being carjacked by a thief who drove away with her strapped into a seat.

Detroit Police spokeswoman Eren Stephens said today that one person has donated $15,000 and CrimeStoppers of Michigan is offering $2,500 for information leading to the return of Bianca Jones.

Police have been working with county, state and federal authorities to find Bianca, who was last seen Friday morning in the city's New Center area.

Her father reported being carjacked at gunpoint around 9:45 a.m. The vehicle was recovered nearby with the empty child seat still inside.

Police have released a composite sketch of a suspect, described as a light-skinned African-American man who is not clean-shaven.

www.thetimesherald.com/article/20111203/NEWS05/111203007/Reward-offered-related-missing-Detroit-girl-2?odyssey=nav|head

[meme]

Police question story of girl's disappearance

2011.12.04

Detroit's police chief says investigators are questioning the truth of a story that a 2-year-old girl was kidnapped during a carjacking.

Chief Ralph Godbee issued a statement Sunday saying police are interested in "allaying some of the fears of the public" about the "apparent randomness" of Bianca Jones' disappearance.

Thirty-two-year-old Dandre Lane told police Friday that a man forced him from his car and drove off with his daughter Bianca strapped into a seat.

The car was fund later with a child seat and no sign of the girl. On Saturday, Godbee said Lane was in custody on unrelated charges.

Godbee now says "the authenticity and credibility of the original version of events" are "under intense scrutiny" from detectives.

Godbee's full statement is here: "The search for Bianca Jones is on going and continues to be of the highest priority relative to our commitment of dedicated resources to this case.

The Detroit Police Department will not comment on the quantity nor the quality of any evidence or information we have gathered to date.

However, in the interest of allaying some of the fears of the public regarding the apparent randomness of Bianca's disappearance, the authenticity and credibility of the original version of events is under intense scrutiny by our investigative team.

We still need the public to relay any tips that could help in establishing the whereabouts of Bianca Jones to either 1-800-SPEAK-UP or to 313-596-2260, Bianca's safe return is priority one." Volunteers have been canvassing neighborhoods looking for the toddler. "The thought of it being my daughter just wouldn't allow me to sit out and not do anything," said volunteer Courtney Lawson.

Bianca's mother is also asking making a public plea for the safe return of her daughter. "It's been very, very hard for us. It's like a nightmare.

No one ever expects this to happen," she said. "Please being Bianca home. No one is looking for you, no one is trying to persecute you. I just want my baby back. That's all I want, my Bianca to please come home. We miss her."
m.clickondetroit.com/wap/news/text.jsp?sid=6&nid=3083796145&cid=22&scid=-1&ith=3&title=Top+Stories&headtitle=Top+Stories

[meme]

On-duty Detroit firefighters join search for missing Bianca Jones

Dec. 8, 2011

For the past three days, Angela Merchant has searched Dumpsters, alleys and fields in an effort to help police find 2-year-old Bianca Jones, who has been missing since Friday.

"I have nine kids and two grandkids, so I thought this was the right thing to do," said Merchant, 42, of Detroit. "When my kids go to school, I come here."

About 150 volunteers gathered for a third day at Metropolitan United Methodist Church on Wednesday to assist police by searching neighborhoods for anything that may help find Bianca.

On-duty Detroit firefighters joined the search Wednesday, which expanded to east of I-75 in the area of the Detroit Police 13th Precinct.

"The firefighters brought their equipment and expertise to go into houses that were unstable because there are a number of vacant houses in these neighborhoods," said police Lt. Terry Herbert.

Police Sgt. Eren Stephens said that today is expected to be the last day investigators will use volunteers to assist in the search. There are no updates in the investigation, she said.

Bianca's father, D'Andre Lane, told police he was driving his silver Mercury Grand Marquis with the girl in the backseat when he was carjacked at gunpoint near East Grand Boulevard and Brush Street on Friday morning. Bianca was taken with the car, he said.

Police found the car less than a mile away, at Beaubien and Philadelphia, but Bianca was missing.

"When I heard the story, I was immediately worried about her," said Tameka Foster, 31, of Wixom, who joined the volunteer search effort Wednesday. "If this were one of my children, I would want someone to come out and help me."

More than 100 volunteers have shown up to help each day, police said. On Tuesday, more than 200 were there to help.

"This effort has been wonderful and residents are sick and tired of being sick and tired," Herbert said. "Everyone has a Bianca in their family, so they say, 'What more can I do to help?' "

www.freep.com/article/20111208/NEWS01/112080669/On-duty-Detroit-firefighters-join-search-for-missing-Bianca-Jones

[meme]

Dad of missing Detroit girl Bianca, 2, hides in wake of death threats, attorney says

Dec. 6, 2011

The father of missing 2-year-old Bianca Jones is in hiding after receiving death threats, according to his lawyer.

D’Andre Lane, 32, of Detroit, said he wants to search for his daughter that he says disappeared after they were carjacked on Friday, according to his lawyer, Terry L. Johnson. But after investigators’ said Lane failed a polygraph test, death threats have kept Lane from joining dozens of volunteers combing the city for little Bianca, Johnson said.

Johnson declined to discuss where Lane is staying, but said that police know where to find him.

“He really wants to go search,” Johnson said today. “But he, himself, is being threatened; his family is being threatened. And for his own safety -- and when his daughter is found -- we want to make sure she has a father to come back to.”

Lane, 32, told police he was driving his silver Mercury Grand Marquis with Bianca in the backseat when he was carjacked near East Grand Boulevard and Brush Street. He said the girl was taken with the car.

Police found the car 10 minutes later at Beaubien and Philadelphia, but Bianca was missing.

Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee Jr. issued a statement Sunday saying the credibility of Lane's account is "under intense scrutiny by our investigative team."

Godbee said Saturday that Lane was being held for warrants on an unrelated matter. Lane was released from police custody Monday. Police have not identified any suspects.

Lane took a polygraph test within 24 hours of reporting Bianca missing –which led to him not passing the test, Johnson said. Polygraph results are inadmissible as evidence in court.

“My contention is pretty straightforward: that this polygraph was not administered properly,” Johnson said. “You don’t take someone who is under an extreme amount of pressure: he was just carjacked and his 2-year-old daughter was taken. When someone uses the term someone failed a polygraph, my contention is he didn’t fail -- it wasn’t administered properly.”

Johnson said investigators are unfairly painting Lane as a suspect. He said police searched Lane’s home on Mitchell on Detroit’s northeast side Monday night a second time with a search warrant, even though Lane has cooperated and offered to let investigators look at anything that might help find his daughter.

“My client gave consent the first time, and all they have to do is ask,” Johnson said. “Unfortunately, they have to have the sensationalism, with the cameras going and guns drawn. That’s unfair.”

Johnson stopped short of saying that the search for Bianca is being hindered because of the investigative focus on his client.

“I think what they’re doing at this point is they’re strictly focusing on him,” Johnson said. “He’s being treated more like a criminal than the victim of a carjacking.”

www.freep.com/article/20111206/NEWS01/111206026/Dad-missing-Detroit-girl-Bianca-2-hides-wake-death-threats-attorney-says

[meme]

Sources: Bianca Jones may not be found alive

Dec 12 2011

There is evidence that 2-year-old Detroit girl Bianca Jones will not be found alive, sources close to the investigation told the Local 4 Defenders.

Jones has been missing since Dec. 2, when her father, D'Andre Lane told police Bianca was in a rear car seat when he was carjacked at gunpoint. The car was found a short time later, but the girl wasn't in it.

Sources said investigators have searched Lane’s home on Mitchell Street with cadaver dogs, which did return a positive hit for signs of decomposition. Although the little girl is still missing, sources said the search for her has turned from a rescue to a recovery effort.

Organizedpolice andvolunteer efforts ended Sunday. More than 1,000 people had searched abandoned houses, fields and alleys in neighborhoods.

Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee has said "the authenticity and credibility of theoriginalversion of events" are "under intense scrutiny" from detectives.

But in an interview with Local 4, Lane said he has answering all of the questions police have been asking him.

"All this stuff that's going on, there's a lot of speculation and things being said in the media and people thinking what they want to think," he said. "I mean, the truth will come out. I'm not worried about all that. All I'm worried about is my baby coming home and I'm cooperating with police in every aspect of the investigation. Anything they need from me they just need to get in contact with us and we'll be there."

www.clickondetroit.com/news/investigations/Sources-Bianca-Jones-may-not-be-found-alive/-/1719314/5363678/-/km8ym6/-/index.html

[meme]

Little Hope for Missing Girl

Dec 22, 2011

DETROIT, Mich. (My TV20 News at 10) --- As of today, we still don’t know whom the Detroit Police have named in a warrant in the Bianca Jones missing case and it seems we won’t know until next year.

The Wayne County prosecutor’s office announced it most likely won’t decide until early 2012 if it will issue a warrant against an unidentified individual in the missing case of the two year old.

In the meantime, the search for little Bianca has grown cold. More, tonight on My TV20 News at 10 on WMYD.

www.tv20detroit.com/news/local/Little-Hope-for-Missing-Girl-136099528.html?m=y&smobile=y&c=y

[meme]

Wayne County Prosecutor: Decision 'Very soon' in Bianca Jones case

2-year-old missing since December

Mar 13 2012

DETROIT-2-year-old missing since December The Wayne County prosecutor says she'll decide "very, very soon" whether to file charges in the disappearance of a 2-year-old Detroit girl who has been missing since early December.

Detroit police asked for an arrest warrant in mid-December, two weeks after Bianca Jones was reported missing by her father during a carjacking. The car was recovered but not the child. Police have been skeptical of D'Andre Lane's version of events, but he has denied wrongdoing. Worthy briefly talked about the case Tuesday during a news conference about other matters. She says her office is giving the case a very thorough look.

www.clickondetroit.com/news/Wayne-County-Prosecutor-Decision-Very-soon-in-Bianca-Jones-case/-/1719418/9286130/-/emw9a7/-/index.html

[meme]

MARCH 14, 2012

Bianca Jones' father charged with murder in disappearance of toddler

Detroit— Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced murder charges for D'Andre Louis Lane, the father of missing 2-year-old Bianca Jones, Wednesday in the Detroit toddler's disappearance case.

Worthy announced her decision to charge Lane Wednesday with first-degree felony murder and first-degree child abuse several months after Bianca was last seen in December even though her body was ever recovered.

"The human body is sometimes the best piece of evidence we have," said Worthy, who noted even though investigators haven't found Bianca, she feels the case against Lane is a strong one.

Worthy also said Bianca was subjected to child abuse on the day Bianca went missing.

Lane will be arraigned in 36th District Court at 1 p.m. Thursday. He has been in Oakland County's jail since Monday, according to jail officials. Lane is being held on a violation of a personal protection order unrelated to his daughter's disappearance. He'll be transferred to Detroit custody later Wednesday, Worthy said.

Bianca was reported missing around 10 a.m. Dec. 2, when Lane told police that carjackers forced him out of his 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis at gunpoint at Brush and Carter streets, just north of East Grand Boulevard, before driving off with his daughter in the backseat. The car was recovered a few minutes after police responded to the call, but Bianca was gone.

Investigators searching for Bianca had requested a criminal warrant in December. Detroit police asked prosecutors to charge someone in connection with the disappearance, but details of the request weren't made public then.

A police source told The Detroit News earlier that cadaver dogs searched Lane's home and evidence was discovered. Police have said they don't trust Lane's story, but the father has said he had nothing to do with her disappearance.

Police have vowed to continue searching for Bianca and would call on citizen volunteers if needed.

Bianca's mother, Banika Jones, said Wednesday she's holding out hope that her daughter is still alive. The flyer that was distributed when Bianca first went missing still hangs in the front window of Banika Jones' house on Custer Street.

"I'm still looking for my daughter," she said. "I believe she's alive, and we won't stop looking until we either find her, or someone tells me different. She's still out there."

Lane's jailing occurs as a former wife, Rakiba Lanise Mitchell of Farmington Hills, said she fears "now more than ever" for the safety of a son from their brief relationship that ended in 2010.

Last March, the personal protection order was obtained against Lane by Mitchell, who divorced Lane in 2010. In December, Lane was ordered to attend an anger management class by Oakland Circuit Judge Cheryl Matthews.

Lane was back in court on Monday for failing to meet the court's order and sentenced to 14 days in the Oakland County Jail.

Mitchell and Lane were married about 18 months, and she filed for divorce in June 2010. They had a son, now 3 years old. She initially sought a personal protection order against him, saying he had shown up unannounced at her home demanding to see the boy.

Mitchell said Lane sent her repeated "threatening" emails and made unwanted telephone calls to her and relatives, according to Oakland Circuit Court records.

Last December, she said when Detroit police showed up to talk to her about a missing child, "I feared that Mr. Lane had followed me and abducted my child," she wrote in court filings. She learned her son was fine and that the investigation concerned Bianca Jones.

In an Oakland Circuit filing on Tuesday, Mitchell sought an extension of her PPO against Lane because of various concerns about Lane's behavior and unwanted media attention she has drawn, "including the Nancy Grace show" who showed up at her residence and at her parents' address "with cameras rolling."

"I never made any statements nor do I wish to be involved with the Bianca Jones case; however I fear now more than ever for my son's safety. Mr. Lane was not able to complete the anger management class that was ordered by Judge Matthews.

"As a result of not completing anger management she sentenced him to 14 days in the Oakland County Jail. To date Mr. Lane has violated the PPO twice, he has had two bench warrants, has been arrested twice, failed to complete anger management and has been involved in a high profile case involving a missing child..." she wrote.

www.detroitnews.com/article/20120314/METRO01/203140375/Bianca-Jones-father-charged-disappearance-toddler?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

[meme]

DETROIT, Michigan -- The 8-year-old sister of Bianca Jones told prosecutors

Tuesday about the "hard stick" her father kept in his closet to discipline his children.

The child then recalled a December day when that tool was used on her 2-year-old sister, Bianca, after the girl refused to speak.

"One day she wouldn't talk when my dad was asking her questions," the girl said. "She got a whooping."

The girl also testified Tuesday in 36th District Court in Detroit about separate occasion when her father, D'Andre Lane, hit her with the same stick and stuffed a pair of her wet underwear under her tongue after she wet the bed. The incident, she said, tore the underside of her tongue and prevented her from eating because "it burned."

The child's testimony was shared during Lane's preliminary examination on felony murder and first-degree child abuse charges in Bianca's death. The girl was last seen Dec. 2. Her body has not been found.

Lane, 32, of Detroit, has claimed his daughter was in the back seat of his 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis on Dec. 2 when he was forced out at gunpoint by carjackers at Brush and Carter streets. The car was recovered shortly after, but the child was gone.

Prosecutors, however, have said there's "considerable evidence" linking Lane to the abuse and murder of his child, including statements he allegedly made to investigators.

Two witnesses testified Tuesday in the hearing that is expected to resume April 27 before Judge Ruth C. Carter.

Lane's daughter said that she last saw her sister awake the night before Bianca disappeared.

That morning, she said. her father carried a silent Bianca to the car. She was dressed in purple pants and covered with an animal print blanket. He strapped Bianca in next to her and the toddler did not move or make a sound, she said.

The girl testified that she had met her sister only four to five days before she went missing, but the two shared a bedroom, and Bianca had always snored.

Detroit Police requested a criminal warrant in December for a suspect not publicly named.

A police source close to the investigation previously told The News that cadaver dogs had searched Lane's home and discovered evidence.

Forensic canine expert Martin Grime, who is contracted under the FBI, testified Tuesday that he brought in his victim recovery dog two days after Bianca went missing. The dog was able to pick up a cadaver scent inside Lane's car, inside the girls' bedroom in Lane's home as well as on the blanket Bianca had been covered with and her car seat.

Grime admitted for defense that the dogs detect only the generic scent of human decomposition. The dogs, he said, cannot determine identity, age, race, gender or the rate of decomposition.

Lane maintains he had nothing to do with his daughter's disappearance.

Lane is being held in a secure area of the Wayne County Jail on a $3 million bond.

www.detroitnews.com/article/20120417/METRO01/204170375#ixzz1sLxvZRsC

[meme]

Bianca Jones' dad appears in court, disturbing testimony heard from 8-year-old daughter

DETROIT (WXYZ) - The father of Bianca Jones is in court for a preliminary hearing as he faces charges that he murdered the missing two-year-old girl.

When the hearing began Tuesday afternoon, the first person on the stand was Lane’s 8-year-old daughter.

The little girl testified about a time she wet the bed, saying her father was so upset that he shoved her wet underwear into her mouth, causing a cut.

She also said that she did not see Bianca awake on the morning of December 2, the day of her reported kidnapping.

The girl told the court that Bianca had a blanket over her face when they left for school that day, and that Bianca didn’t say a word or move when her father put her into the car.

Investigators believe Bianca was already dead when Lane left the house that day. Sources have told Action News that they believe Lane became upset the night before Bianca disappeared because she wet the bed. Police contend he beat the little girl and that eventually led to her death.

However, Lane has insisted all along that Bianca was kidnapped during a carjacking. While the car was eventually found, there has been no sign of the little girl.

Throughout the case Lane has denied any wrongdoing, even though police sources say he failed a polygraph test.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has also said that Lane’s story does not match the facts of the case.

However, Lane’s attorney says his client had no role in Bianca’s death and that he will fight the murder charge.

Investigators have said they expect the preliminary hearing will last about three days. The preliminary examination resumes April 27.

Bianca's mother and Lane's teenage nephew are also expected to be called to the stand by prosecutors.

www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/detroit/key-hearing-tuesday-for-detroit-dad-accused-in-the-death-of-two-year-old-daughter

[meme]

8-year-old testifies against father who is charged with murder in Bianca Jones case

D'Andre Lane is charged with murder, even though his daughter's body has not been found

Apr 17 2012

An 8-year-old Detroit girl took the stand Tuesday to testify against her father, who is charged with murder her 2-year-old sister’s disappearance.

D’Andre Lane says his daughter, Bianca Jones, was abducted during a carjacking on Dec. 2. The car was later found but the 2-year-old wasn’t in it.

At his preliminary hearing Tuesday, his other daughter, Il’Andra Lane, smiled as she identified her father in the courtroom.

Il’Andra testified that a few days before her sister went missing her sister was hit by their father with a “hard stick.”

“She got a whopping,” the girl said.

She also talked about an earlier incident where she herself was abused after wetting the bed.

She said her father put her wet underwear into her mouth, so forcibly it hurt.

“I was screaming and then they went in my mouth,” she said.

Investigators have said they think Bianca Jones was already dead before she was put into her car seat in the car that was allegedly stolen.

The sister shared a bedroom and Il’Andra said she never heard her sister that night and that her sister she was covered when they got into the car the next morning.

An FBI contractor that works with a cadaver dog said the dog signaled positive for decomposition in Bianca’s bedroom, on her blanket and car seat and in Lane’s car.

The 2-year-old is still missing.

More testimony is planned before it will be decided if Lane will stand trial.

www.clickondetroit.com/news/news/Key-hearing-set-for-Detroit-dad-in-death-of-Bianca-Jones/-/4714498/10951574/-/w2ken3z/-/index.html

[meme]

The mother of 2-year-old Bianca Jones takes the stand in preliminary hearing of D'Andre Lane

(DETROIT) - The mother of a missing toddler took the stand for the second day of D'Andre Lane's preliminary hearing.

Banika Jones, who was visibly reserved on the stand, told the court she had no reason not to trust Bianca's father with taking care of her.

Jones left Bianca with Lane on November 26, and asked him to keep the girl for a few weeks, almost until Christmas. Lane had told Banika he wanted to celebrate the little girl's second birthday together. It was the first time Bianca stayed with her father alone overnight.

Jones has repeatedly stood by Lane, saying he wouldn't harm their daughter. On the stand, she testified saying she saw him spank the girl on her behind once when she was jumping off furniture.

Outside the courtroom, Jones told Action News it was the only time she saw Lane hit the child. She also said she would also have disciplined the child the same way, but Lane was nearer to the girl at the time.

Following Jones' testimony, Bianca's aunt, Mary Ford-Grandy, took the stand. After allegedly being carjacked, Lane ran to her nearby home. Ford-Grandy said it took nearly 15 minutes to console a hysterical Lane before she was able to call 9-1-1 for help.

The tapes were played in court during the hearing.

D'Andre Lane has pleaded not guilty to First-Degree Felony Murder and First-Degree Felony Child Abuse.

Lane claimed Bianca was kidnapped back in December during a carjacking. She hasn’t been seen since.

During an April 17 hearing, Bianca’s 8-year old sister testified in the case about the day her sister disappeared.

That morning, she said, her father carried a silent Bianca to the car, covered with a blanket.

He strapped the child in next to her, and the toddler didn’t move or make a sound, she said.

Prosecutors contend that there is “considerable” evidence linking Lane to the abuse and murder charges against him.

Lane is being held in a secure area of the Wayne County Jail on a $3 million bond.

www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/the-mother-of-2-year-old-bianca-jones-will-take-the-stand-friday-in-case-against-dandre-lane#ixzz1tFfFIsTB

[meme]

Bianca Jones' dad described repeatedly paddling girl, 2, the night before she disappeared

May 8, 2012

D'Andre Lane told police his 2-year-old daughter Bianca Jones was suffering from a cold, diarrhea and had difficulty falling asleep the night before he was allegedly carjacked at gunpoint and his daughter disappeared.

Prosecutors introduced portions of a five-hour police interview conducted with Lane this afternoon in 36th District Court in Detroit.

The videos were shown during the third day of a preliminary examination to determine whether Lane will stand trial on charges of first-degree felony murder and first-degree child abuse in connection with Bianca's disappearance.

Lane, 32, was shown in the video telling police officers he spanked the girl for having a bathroom accident. He said he hit her on her butt and legs with a paddle he made with a wooden stick and duct tape. The girl later fell out of bed around 1 a.m. the night before her disappearance, hitting her head.

"She nodded out and got up," Lane said.

Lane told police he kept hitting Bianca with the wooden part of the paddle to keep her up.

Lane said he was hanging out with his nephew and at one point hit Bianca, "popping her on the butt."

"I doubt it even hurt like that," Lane told police.

The girl, Lane said, had trouble falling asleep, and he kept her up with him until 3:30 a.m.

Police Officer John Quincy testified today and was shown on the video asking Lane how Bianca was the next morning. Lane said the girl was a bit out of it.

Quincy testified that he and a fellow officer read Lane his constitutional rights during the interview, which began at 2:36 p.m. Dec. 3.

Quincy testified that the day of Bianca's disappearance, Lane told police he left his house on Mitchell Street in Detroit between 7:45 and 8 a.m., Dec. 2. Lane told police he dropped off his nephew then took his 8-year-old daughter to school in Highland Park and then stopped at the Marathon gas station on Woodward and Highland. After leaving Highland Park, Lane drove downtown to Wayne County Community College District and then ran into a friend near the Greyhound bus station on Howard Street in Detroit.

After talking with his friend, Lane said he was on his way to Bianca's mother's house when he was carjacked in the area of Brush and West Grand Boulevard. He walked to the 200 block of Custer Street to Bianca's mother's house after the carjacking, Quincy said.

Lane's attorney, Terry Johnson, argued that the officers continued to question Lane even after he indicated he was tired of answering questions.

"Did you ever advise Mr. Lane that he was free to go at anytime?" Johnson asked Quincy.

"No. I did not," Quincy answered.

www.freep.com/article/20120508/NEWS01/120508069/D-Andre-Lane-Bianca-Jones-disappearance-examination?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

[meme]

Canine expert testimony allowed in father's murder trial; cadaver scent detected in car

Updated: August 24, 2012 - 3:13 pm

DETROIT —The handler of a cadaver-sniffing dog will be allowed to testify in the murder trial of a Detroit father who claims his 2-year-old daughter was taken in a carjacking.

The Detroit News reports (http://bit.ly/SxcSeR ) that Wayne County Circuit Judge Vonda Evans ruled Friday to allow testimony by forensic canine expert Martin Grime.

Defense attorneys for 32-year-old D'Andre Lane opposed the testimony.

Bianca Jones disappeared Dec. 2. Lane's car was found, but the girl wasn't in it.

Grime testified Friday that his dog detected the smell of a cadaver in Lane's car two days after Bianca was reported missing and in her bedroom.

Lane is accused of beating Bianca to death with a stick with a towel wrapped in duct tape, and disposing of her body. His trial starts Sept. 18.

m.therepublic.com/view/story/5f35e85ac86843e29e64f4efc01df1d5/MI--Father-Missing-Child

[meme]

Jury Selection Begins In Bianca Jones Murder Case

DETROIT (WWJ) –Jury selection is set to begin in Wayne County Circuit Court Tuesday for the trial of a Detroit father who is accused of murdering his 2-year-old daughter.

D’Andre Lane faces the possibility of life in prison if convicted on charges of first degree murder and child abuse in the death of Bianca Jones, whose body has still not been found.

The prosecution says it’s not the first murder trial where the victim’s body was still missing, but they contend Lane beat the toddler to death during potty training and dumped her body before staging a carjacking and kidnapping to cover his tracks.

According to Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, an extensive investigation determined that there was no carjacking.

Center to the trial will be the testimony of a cadaver dog expert, whose dog allegedly detected the scent of decomposition in the closet of the children’s room at Lanes’ home.

Lane maintains his innocence and has said he believes his daughter is being held somewhere.

detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/09/18/jury-selection-begins-in-bianca-jones-murder-case/

[meme]

OCTOBER 3, 2012 AT 10:52 AM

Bianca Jones case resumes today with forensic canine experts expected to testify

Detroit — Testimony continues Wednesday in the felony murder trial of a Detroit father accused in the December disappearance of his toddler daughter.

D'Andre Lane is on trial in Wayne County Circuit Court on allegations he fatally abused Bianca Jones over a bed-wetting incident on Dec. 2, disposed of her body and fabricated a carjacking. The child's body has not been recovered.

Defense contends prosecution has no evidence that proves Lane abused or murdered the child.

Jurors Wednesday are expected to hear from forensic canine experts, including Martin Grime, whose dog, Morse, allegedly detected the scent of human decomposition in Lane's car and home.

Defense attorneys have criticized the controversial and relatively new and "highly prejudicial" scientific method of using cadaver dogs to detect human decomposition and fought, prior to trial, to have it tossed out.

Circuit Judge Vonda R. Evans heard arguments over the testimony in August and ultimately sided with prosecutors.

Grime, an FBI contract worker, is expected to take the stand Wednesday. He previously testified that his dog detected a cadaver scent inside Lane's car, on Bianca's blanket and on a car seat, and in the girl's bedroom in Lane's home. Grime said the dogs cannot determine identity, age, race, gender or the rate of decomposition.

Lane has said Bianca was in the back seat of his 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis the morning of Dec. 2 when he was approached by armed carjackers near Brush Street and Grand River.

The vehicle was found shortly after, but the child was not inside.

The jury last week watched an hours-long interview between Lane and police on the day after his daughter went missing.

In a section of the Dec. 3 interview at a Detroit Police precinct, Officer John Quincy presses Lane on his daughter's whereabouts and stresses, "I don't want people to paint a picture like you're some murderer."

Lane denies causing his daughter any harm and asks to go home.

Later, a visibly flustered Lane puts his head in his hands when Quincy repeatedly asks him to account for a 35-minute gap between the time he was allegedly carjacked and placed a call to his roommate for help.

Lane told the officer he "can't remember everything" and didn't call 911 because "I was messed up."

In another part of the tape, Lane told Quincy that Bianca hadn't slept well the evening prior to her disappearance after falling out of bed around 1 a.m.

Bianca's mother, Banika Jones, testified at the opening of the trial that she stands behind Lane and believes her daughter is alive.

www.detroitnews.com/article/20121003/METRO01/210030396/1361/Bianca-Jones-case-resumes-today-with-forensic-canine-experts-expected-to-testify

[meme]

D'Andre Lane guilty in death of daughter Bianca Jones

12:55 PM, October 12, 2012

A jury found D'Andre Lane guilty of murder and child abuses charges today in the death of his 2-year-old daughter.

The verdict was announced this afternoon in Judge Vonda Evans’ courtroom in Third District Court in Detroit.

Lane is accused of murdering Bianca Jones and fabricating a story that she disappeared during a carjacking in December.

Lane, 32, faces life in prison without parole upon conviction of the murder charge.

Prosecutors described Lane as a manipulative child abuser who killed Bianca while disciplining her with a stick. They contend he wrapped her lifeless body in a blanket overnight, strapped her in her car seat the next morning then dumped her.

Johnson argued that Lane's discipline was not out of line, other witnesses saw her alive the next morning and abductors took her after the carjacking. Lane’s car was found a few blocks away from the carjacking, with the engine running and the doors open. Bianca remains missing.

Jurors began deliberating at 10 a.m. Thursday.

www.freep.com/article/20121012/NEWS01/121012043/D-Andre-Lane-Bianca-Jones-verdict?odyssey=nav|head

[earl]

Is hard to imagine people like this exist. But that is what jails are made for.

[meme]

OCTOBER 13, 2012 AT 1:00 AM

Jury convicts Detroit dad in toddler's murder

Body of 2-year-old never found; father's carjacking story rejected

Detroit — The lack of a body didn't deter a jury Friday from sending a Detroit father to prison for life in his toddler daughter's death.

The Wayne County Circuit Court panel delivered the verdict after deliberating for seven hours over two days in the monthlong felony murder trial of D'Andre Lane.

Lane, 32, was found guilty of first-degree felony murder and child abuse on claims he killed 2-year-old Bianca Jones for wetting her bed, disposed of her body at an incinerator and concocted a tale of an armed carjacking to cover up the crime.

Defense attorney, Terry L. Johnson, put a hand on the shoulder of the seemingly stunned father of seven as the jury announced its decision.

Judge Vonda R. Evans will sentence Lane to a mandatory term of life in prison Nov. 16.

The jury of eight women and four men requested several pieces of evidence while deliberating, including the duct tape-wrapped stick Lane allegedly used to discipline Bianca and his other children. Jurors left the court Friday without commenting.

After the hearing, Johnson told reporters that Lane was as "surprised as we were about the verdict."

"We're obviously disappointed. The jury put forth a verdict, and we have to respect that," he said. "Mr. Lane still maintains his innocence in this."

Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Qiana Lillard said she's glad the jury "did the right thing."

"Nothing is going to bring her (Bianca) back," she said.

Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy added in a statement: "I thank God all of the time for the intelligence of Wayne County jurors. They saw through the cowardly scheme of this defendant. Wherever she is now, may Bianca rest in peace."

Bianca's mother, Banika Jones, was not in court Friday and could not be reached, but has been outspoken in her support for Lane.

During early testimony in the trial, she said she doesn't believe Lane harmed her daughter and that the child is still alive.

Prosecutors argued Bianca was "unwanted and unloved" by Lane and that he paddled the girl to death Dec. 2 for wetting her bed and then tossed her body out like trash.

Johnson countered at trial that prosecutors couldn't prove Lane abused or killed the child because her body has never been found.

Lane has said Bianca was in the back seat of his 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis that December morning when he was approached by armed carjackers near Brush Street and Grand River.

The car was recovered nearby shortly after, but the girl was not inside. Lane called a female housemate, but did not call 911.

Curt Benson, a professor at the Cooley School of Law, said convictions without bodies aren't that unusual.

"It's not as uncommon as people think," he said. "Circumstantial evidence can be as compelling as direct evidence."

Prosecutors said testimony in the case revealed Lane went to "unimaginable lengths" to punish a child for potty accidents. An older daughter of Lane testified he once shoved soiled underpants into her mouth, tearing underneath her tongue.

Lane's live-in girlfriend and the defendant confirmed Bianca had been disciplined with the stick in the overnight hours prior to her disappearance.

Lane, during a five-hour videotaped interview with police, said Bianca hadn't slept well after she allegedly fell out of bed and hit her head around 1 a.m.

He then claimed to use the stick to keep her up.

"She kept on trying to nod out. I popped her on the butt, like, 'Come on baby, get up,'" Lane said in the Dec. 3 police interview.

Johnson said Friday he believed there are some "appealable issues" in Lane's case, adding they will consult with an appeals attorney.

A contentious piece of evidence in the case was testimony from a forensic canine expert whose cadaver-sniffing dog allegedly hit on human decomposition in Lane's car and home two days after Bianca went missing.

Martin Grime testified his dog, Morse, alerted him to Lane's car while among 30 others at an impound garage in Detroit.

In separate buildings, the dog led him to the girl's car seat and blanket and allegedly detected a cadaver scent in the child's room inside Lane's Mitchell Street home.

Johnson criticized the relatively new scientific method, noting that Grime admitted there's no methodology to confirm the response —barking — is accurate when nothing is recovered, as in this case.

Evans denied a Wednesday request by the defense to strike the canine testimony and to bypass the jury and consider an acquittal on claims the prosecution didn't prove its case.

Benson said the fact that Bianca's remains are missing isn't strong grounds for an appeal.

However, "novel scientific theories," such as the canine evidence, are "always a legitimate appeal," he said.

"The court of appeals will look really hard at that," he said. "That evidence sounds pretty critical in this case. If the court of appeals says the judge should not have admitted that, it could result in a reversal."

"If it's truly novel, then the trial judge had to find that everything is valid," he said. "Statistically, he'll probably still lose, but it's a legitimate appeal and who knows what the court will do."

www.detroitnews.com/article/20121013/METRO01/210130338#ixzz29Vo7Ym43