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Post by meme on Apr 29, 2013 13:53:02 GMT -5
Jessica Heeringa Missing: Michigan Mom Disappears From Gas Station, Cops Say She Was Abducted
The case of a Michigan mom who disappeared shortly before she was supposed to close up a gas station has been ruled an abduction. ABC News reports that cops believe there was foul play in the disappearance of 25-year-old Jessica Heeringa, who was last seen at a Norton Shores Exxon Mobile Friday night. Fifteen minutes after Heeringa made her last recorded sale at 11 p.m., a costumer called police to say there was no one working at the still-open gas station. The 25-year-old's mother, Shelly Heeringa, told Michigan Live she thinks someone her daughter had seen before at the station “lured [her] out the back and shoved her in the back of van.”
Cops are looking for a silver minivan, possibly a Chrysler Town and Country that authorities believe could have something to do with Heeringa's disappearance.
“I’m sure she was abducted,” Shelly Heeringa said. “She was cleaning a machine, she left her car keys, no money was taken from the gas station.”
WOOD TV released this police description of Heeringa:
Jessica is a 25-year-old female, 5 feet 1 inch tall, weighing about 110 pounds, and has blonde, shoulder-length hair, blue eyes and wears wire-rimmed glasses. She may be wearing a blue-collared shirt that says Sternberg Exxon.
Anyone with information on Heeringa's disappearance is asked to call, Silent Observer at 231-72-CRIME (231-722-7463).
www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/29/jessica-heeringa-missing_n_3178201.html
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Post by meme on Apr 29, 2013 13:58:01 GMT -5
Jessica Heeringa: Police Say It's Possible Missing Gas Station Attendant Knew Her Abductor
April 29, 2013 A Michigan mother who disappeared while working the late shift at a gas station may have known her abductor, police said today. Jessica Heeringa, 25, was working alone Friday night at a Norton Shores, Mich., Exxon station around the time police believe she was abducted. "There is no sign of a struggle in the store, so it's possible she knew who the person was as a customer or as an acquaintance," Norton Shores Police Chief Daniel Shaw told ABCNews.com. Heeringa's purse and keys were found inside the store, he said, and robbery didn't appear to be a motive since the store's cash drawer was left untouched. Shaw said his team of investigators has fielded tips from around the country. Police are seeking the driver of a gray minivan that was seen in the area at the time of Heeringa's disappearance, he said. The gas station was not outfitted with security cameras on the night of Heeringa's disappearance, Shaw said, making tips even more crucial. Jessica's mother, Shelly Heeringa, told ABC News that someone saw her daughter "walk out of the store with this guy like there was no problem," but when they got to his van, a struggle ensued. Jessica's mother, Shelly Heeringa, told ABC News that someone saw her daughter "walk out of the store with this guy like there was no problem," but when they got to his van, a struggle ensued. abcnews.go.com/US/jessica-heeringa-missing-gas-station-attendant-knew-abductor/story?id=19065157#.UX7BwbOm8b8
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Post by earl on Apr 29, 2013 17:31:05 GMT -5
Family and friends speak out but gas station owner clams up under advice of his attorney. Young lady closing the store by herself with no video surveillance set up; I see why he is keeping quiet. Owner of Norton Shores' Exxon Mobil gas station, scene of alleged Jessica Heeringa abduction: 'No comment' NORTON SHORES, MI – The owner of the Exxon Mobil gas station in Norton Shores where 25-year-old night clerk, Jessica Heeringa, was allegedly abducted on Friday has declined to speak of the incident “under the advisement of an attorney.” The man, who declined to give his name, asked members of the media to leave his property and declined to give any information regarding the incident. When asked about the case, the owner replied: "No comment." Police say the young mother was allegedly abducted from the station shortly before 11 p.m. on Friday when Heeringa was working alone. The owner said he isn't speaking about the incident "under the advisement of an attorney." A flier with details of Heeringa’s disappearance was posted on the front door of the building. But the owner isn’t doing enough, according to Heeringa’s friends and family members who rallied outside the building early Monday morning, but were also asked to leave the property. “He’s been difficult lately,” said Shelly Heeringa, Jessica’s mother. She said she’s upset her daughter was working alone at night, in a building that did not have surveillance video at the time of the incident. The owner declined to say whether he now has surveillance equipment installed. Shelly Heeringa said she feels the lack of security cameras inside and outside the building made it the “perfect place” for someone to abduct a young woman. “I feel like it was someone watching the place. I think it’s the perfect place with no security and no security cameras,” she said. A longtime friend of Jessica Heeringa's, Ann Averill, said she thinks the owner should do more to bring attention to the alleged abduction, help search for her and offer reward money. “You think since he knew her he would at least put up more posters,” she said. Police said Heeringa’s alleged abduction came to light after customers had called 911 after entering the store and finding no employees present. Investigators are currently searching for a silver minivan, possibly a Chrysler Town & Country, that was last seen in the area prior to Heeringa’s disappearance. The evidence is based on a passerby observing the car parked near the gas station and driving away, police said. The driver is described as a white male, approximately 30 to 40 years old, 6 feet tall, medium to heavy build with broad shoulders, light brown or sandy blond wavy hair parted in the middle and slightly longer on top. He was last seen wearing a bright red or orange sweatshirt, police said. Heeringa is described as a white female, 5 feet 1 inch tall, about 110 pounds, with blond, shoulder-length hair and blue eyes. Heeringa is also known to wear wired rim glasses. She may be wearing a blue collared shirt with “Sternberg Exxon" on it, the police chief said. Anyone who may have tips to contact Silent Observer at 231-72-CRIME (231-722-7463) or call 911. A task force of investigators from the Norton Shores Police Department, Michigan State Police, Muskegon County Sheriff's Office, Muskegon Police Department and Muskegon County Prosecutor’s Office are all investigating the case. The FBI has also been contacted. Email: hpeters@mlive.com www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2013/04/owner_of_exxon_mobil_gas_stati.html |
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Post by earl on Apr 29, 2013 17:40:06 GMT -5
The Jessica Heeringa Fund Public · By Derek Antol I find it appalling that the store owners havent offered the family an apology, nor have they put up any reward money. I am personally putting up a $500 reward for any information leading up to an arrest in this case, and will be accepting donations at Deuces Wild Smoke Shop to assist the family in filing a property liability suit against the owners of Exxon gas station for their lack of security. I will be setting up a bank account first thing tomorrow so people can easily donate even the smallest amount www.facebook.com/events/592668730751819/  |
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Post by meme on May 1, 2013 12:55:32 GMT -5
Jessica Heeringa Update: Police seek man in connection with missing Mich. mom case, release sketch May 01, 2013 Police are seeking a man in connection with the disappearance of Michigan mom Jessica Heeringa, 25. (CBS) - Police in Norton Shores, Mich., have released a sketch of a man they're seeking in connection with the disappearance of a 25-year-old mother, reports CBS affiliate WWJ. PICTURES: Mich. mom vanishes from gas station Police say Jessica Heeringa, a gas station clerk, disappeared from the Exxon Mobil station where she worked on Friday. Police are investigating the case as an abduction. A man who called 911 shortly after 11 p.m. Friday reported the gas station was empty, though the door was unlocked and he saw te clerk's purse. There was apparently no sign of a struggle, police have said. Police are searching for a gray minivan that was seen driving away from the station Friday night. The driver is being described as a white man, about 30 to 40 years old, about 6 feet tall, with light brown wavy hair. A second video surveillance clip of what police believe is the van is expected to be released Wednesday, MLive reports. The new video was taken from Coin Zone on Grand Haven Road, reports the website. A first video released was from The Old Homestead Tavern, about a mile from where Heeringa was allegedly abducted. Norton Shores Police Chief Daniel Shaw said Tuesday it gets harder as time passes to solve the case. But he said investigators continue to pursue leads and examine limited evidence. Police described Heeringa as 5-foot-1 and about 110 pounds. Anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity near the Exxon Mobil gas station in Norton Shores, Mich. is asked to contact Silent Observer at 231-72-CRIME (231-722-7463) or call 911. m.cbsnews.com/storysynopsis.rbml?&pageType=general&catid=57582291&feed_id=999&videofeed=999&nb_splitPage=2 |
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Post by earl on May 1, 2013 13:40:44 GMT -5
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Post by meme on May 3, 2013 12:35:45 GMT -5
Jessica Heeringa reward funds gets $15,000 donation from Exxon Mobil Corp. to Norton Shores Police Department NORTON SHORES, MI –Exxon Mobil Corp. has contributed $15,000 to the Jessica Heeringa reward fund, Norton Shores Police Chief Daniel Shaw said. The Norton Shores Police Department received the money Thursday, May 2, from the oil corporation, Shaw said. It will be delivered to Muskegon County Silent Observer, boosting the reward fund to more than $16,000. Money in the fund, being held by the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, will be used as a reward for information leading to the recovery of Heeringa and conviction of those involved in what police officials believe to be an abduction. Heeringa, 25, disappeared shortly after 11 p.m. April 26 from the Exxon gas station at 1196 E. Sternberg Road. Police believe she was abducted by a man driving a silver or gray minivan. Anyone with information on Heeringa’s whereabouts or concerning activity near the Exxon gasoline station the night she disappeared are asked to contact Silent Observer at (231) 72-CRIME (231-722-7463) or 911. For those wanting to contribute to the Heeringa investigation reward fund, donations should be dropped off or mailed to the Norton Shores Police Department, 4814 S. Henry St., Norton Shores, MI 49441. Checks or money orders to “Muskegon Community Foundation C/O Silent Observer” should be made with the notation “reward for Jessica.” The foundation holds reward money for Muskegon County Silent Observer. www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2013/05/jessica_heeringa_reward_fund_g.html |
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Post by meme on May 3, 2013 12:36:35 GMT -5
Michigan park searched in hunt for missing mom Jessica Heeringa May 3, 2013 Police came up empty-handed after searching a state park in Norton Shores on Thursday for a western Michigan mother who vanished from her job nearly a week ago. Investigators had received a tip of gunshots heard between 7:30 and 7:45 a.m. Saturday in the area of P.J. Hoffmaster State Park. Jessica Heeringa is believed to have been abducted between 10:50 and 11:15 p.m. April 26 from her job at the Exxon Mobil on East Sternberg Road in Norton Shores. Norton Shores Police Chief Daniel Shaw said police did not find anything in the air and ground searches of the park. He said police located a pair of sunglasses, but Heeringa’s fiancé said they did not belong to her. Police said they believe the tip is credible but pointed out that Saturday marked the opening day of turkey hunting season, and hunting is permitted in the southern part of Norton Shores. www.freep.com/article/20130503/NEWS/305030014/ |
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Post by meme on May 3, 2013 12:39:36 GMT -5
Police: Latest person of interest cleared in Jessica Heeringa's disappearance 11:53 AM, May 3, 2013 NORTON SHORES, Mich. (WZZM) - Norton Shores Police Chief Daniel Shaw has told WZZM 13's Jon Mills that an earlier person of interest in the case of Jessica Heeringa's disappearance has been cleared. The person had been interviewed by police over the last couple of days. Also, police tell WZZM that Jessica's parents have submitted DNA samples to police so investigators have her DNA on hand if needed. Police said at a morning news conference that they are also checking the vendors who regularly visit the gas station making deliveries. They are checking some spots of spilled fluid in the parking lot of the gas station to see if that can lead to any clues. We have crews in Norton Shores and Muskegon County today, following the investigation that began last Friday night after Jessica Heeringa disappeared from her job at the Exxon Mobile station on Sternberg Road at about 11:15pm. For links to leave tips and surveillance videos and more pictures, click here or go to www.wzzm13.com/news/specials/findjessica/www.wzzm13.com/news/article/255209/2/Police-Latest-person-of-interest-cleared |
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Post by meme on May 3, 2013 12:43:31 GMT -5
Jessica Heeringa: Second Surveillance Video Of Van Released In Missing Michigan Mom Case NORTON SHORES, Mich. —A western Michigan police chief has released a second surveillance video showing a van that's believed to be connected to the disappearance of a 25-year-old mother and gas station night clerk. Norton Shores Chief Daniel Shaw says the video may help investigators fill in the timeline of events of Friday night, when Jessica Heeringa was last seen. Shaw says officers searched a state park Thursday evening after gunshots were heard in the area but found nothing. He says the shots probably came from hunters on the opening of turkey season. Exxon Mobil and others have donated $15,000 for clues in the search for Heeringa. And Michigan legislators say they're looking for ways to protect convenience store clerks, including mandating surveillance video recording. www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2013/05/02/jessica-heeringa-surveillance-footage_n_3204163.html |
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Post by meme on May 5, 2013 3:39:46 GMT -5
400 Dollars Found In Heeringa’s Wallet And Register Untouched NORTON SHORES, Mich. –FOX 17 has learned more than $400 was found inside Jessica Heeringa’s purse left behind at the Norton Shores gas station where she went missing eight days ago. Investigators initially said there was money left behind in Heeringa’s purse along with cash in the register but this is the first time we know how much. “It just strengthens the case being an abduction and not a robbery,” said FOX 17′s Ann Marie LaFlamme who broke the new details about the case Saturday morning following a conversation with sources. All along investigators said money was left behind in Heeringa’s purse and in the cash register. fox17online.com/2013/05/04/400-dollars-found-in-heeringas-wallet-and-register-untouched/ |
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Post by ac on May 5, 2013 9:13:53 GMT -5
Heartbreaking.....hope she is found safe. Thanks again, Meme.
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Post by meme on May 6, 2013 14:50:30 GMT -5
Heartbreaking.....hope she is found safe. Thanks again, Meme. Yes very sad hope she's found and brought back to her love ones. you're welcome ac. |
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Post by meme on May 6, 2013 14:59:15 GMT -5
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Post by meme on May 6, 2013 15:13:14 GMT -5
Jessica Heeringa's abduction case now includes help U.S. Secret Service with cell phone analysis MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI –A federal investigator has offered his services in the effort to find missing Jessica Heeringa,25, of Muskegon, as the investigation pushed on this morning, May 6. The agent will focus on cell phone data that will hopefully lead to Heeringa’s suspected abductor, police said. Heeringa, a young mother who was working at the Sternberg Exxon in Norton Shores as a night clerk, has been missing since April 26. Police believe she was abducted from the gas station toward the end of her shift. The extensive search continued this morning, police said, and now includes help from a U.S. Secret Service official. “A member of the U.S. Secret Service with ties to the area volunteered his services to help find Jessica. We took him up on the offer. He has been assisting with data analysis and we truly appreciate his help,” said Norton Shores Police Chief Dan Shaw. The federal agent, who works out of the Detroit office, but is originally from Muskegon County, will specifically work on analyzing cell phone data, Shaw said. Police were notified of Heeringa’s disappearance at around 11:15 p.m. April 26, when a customer called 911 to report that the gas station was open but there were no employees present. According to the 911 audio recording released last week, the customer pulled up to the station to pump gas and went inside the convenience store but was unable to pay at the pump. When he realized that no one was in the store, he called 911. Police are looking for a silver or gray minivan, possibly a Chrysler Town & Country, that witnesses reported seeing in the area around the time Heeringa was allegedly abducted. They would also like to speak with the driver in connection with the case. Shaw hopes the cell phone data can identify the owner of the silver van they are hoping to locate. He believes the person driving that van knows what happened to Heeringa. Shaw said if they can run the vehicle plate number they can get access to a driver’s license photo. The department will work with the Michigan Secretary of State and the agent analyzing the cell phone information. But it may take some time, he said. Thousands of silver minivans travel that area, he said. The police department has a cell phone data tracking unit –something obtained through grant money last year –that can basically “mirror” an individual’s cell phone. Investigators have asked cell phone service carriers for access to all area data following Heeringa's disappearance. Several phones were voluntarily brought in to be analyzed, Shaw said, and hundreds of contact numbers will have to be looked through. “What we are trying to find is connections with the people we talked to and Jessica, because we think it’s an acquaintance of hers, possibly. We want to trace it back to anyone we might not have talked to,” Shaw said. “We’ve downed-loaded the phones and we’re going through all the data. The agent was interested in the case and he has ties here so he wanted to help," Shaw added. Shaw said, to clarify, they are not “tracking” phones. “We copied information from the phones with the device. We copy it like copying a hard drive. We go through it with the tools and try to connect any phone numbers,” Shaw said. The driver is described as a white male, approximately 30 to 40 years old, 6 feet tall, medium to heavy build with broad shoulders, light brown or sandy blond wavy hair parted in the middle and slightly longer on top. He was last seen wearing a bright red or orange sweatshirt, police said. Heeringa is described as a white female, 5 feet 1 inch tall, about 110 pounds, with blond, shoulder-length hair and blue eyes. Heeringa is also known to wear wired rim glasses. She may be wearing a blue collared shirt with “Sternberg Exxon" on it, the police chief said. Anyone with information is urged to contact 911 immediately or Silent Observer at 72-CRIME. www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2013/05/jessica_heeringas_abduction_in.html |
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Post by meme on May 7, 2013 6:46:47 GMT -5
Police: Minivan owner no longer the focus in missing mom case Police interviewed a man who owns a silver minivan in the disappearance of Jessica Heeringa on the state’s west side, but said Friday he no longer is the focus of the week-long investigation. Few clues have publicly emerged since the 25-year-old mother went missing, beyond a description of a silver or gray minivan seen at the gas station where Heeringa was working the night of April 26 and a composite sketch of the driver. Norton Shores Police Chief Daniel Shaw said the minivan owner was questioned Wednesday and Thursday. That man and several other persons of interest who were questioned are no longer a focus of the investigation, Shaw said. Police said they believe Heeringa was abducted from the Exxon Mobil because there were no signs of a struggle at the gas station. Her belongings, including her purse and vehicle, were left behind. Heeringa disappeared shortly before closing time. Shaw said she made her last sale at 10:50 p.m. Less than a half hour later,a customer called 911 to report that the station was unlocked but empty. The driver of the minivan seen near the station is described as about 30-40 years old, around 6 feet tall and wearing a bright red or orange shirt that night. Heeringa’s loved ones have passed out missing-person posters, and police have gathered surveillance footage from area businesses. The Exxon Mobil did not have security cameras, Shaw said. He said police believe Heeringa’s abductor knew her. Shaw said samples from a substance found on the concrete outside of the gas station were sent for testing. If it’s blood, Shaw said, investigators have already collected the necessary samples to determine whether it is from Heeringa. The Exxon Mobil Corp. contributed $15,000 to the reward fund for Heeringa, the Norton Shores Police Department announced on its Facebook page. Anyone with information is asked to call Silent Observer at 231-722-7463. www.freep.com/article/20130503/NEWS06/305030127/jessica-heeringa-norton-shores-missing-police-abduction |
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Post by meme on May 8, 2013 13:05:07 GMT -5
Jessica Heeringa's blood found outside Exxon gas station, authorities have determined MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI –Authorities have determined blood found outside the Exxon gas station in Norton Shores where Jessica Heeringa was allegedly abducted is that of the missing woman. Police determined the small amount of blood that was collected by investigators and sent to the Michigan State Police crime lab is Heeringa’s. Police announced that information in a press release shortly before 1 p.m. today, May 8. Heeringa, 25, has been missing since April 26, last seen working the end of her shift at the gas station as a clerk where she was apparently abducted around 11 p.m. Police are not releasing the location where the blood was found at this time. Authorities had prepared in the event the substance came back as human blood, Norton Shores Police Chief Dan Shaw. DNA samples had already been taken from Heeringa’s parents and Heeringa's toothbrush and hairbrush. Authorities as of Wednesday afternoon have not yet located Heeringa, who has a 3-year-old son, and a suspect or suspects had not yet been identified. Her son has remained in the care of the family of her fiance, Dakotah Quail-Dyer. Police continue to search for silver or gray minivan seen in the area of the Exxon station around the time she disappeared. The driver is described as a white male, approximately 30 to 40 years old, 6 feet tall, medium to heavy build with broad shoulders, light brown or sandy blond wavy hair parted in the middle and slightly longer on top. He was last seen wearing a bright red or orange sweatshirt, police said. Heeringa is described as a white female, 5 feet 1 inch tall, about 110 pounds, with blond, shoulder-length hair and blue eyes. Heeringa is also known to wear wired rim glasses. She may be wearing a blue collared shirt with “Sternberg Exxon" on it, the police chief said. Quail-Dyer, said she also has the following characteristics: • Heeringa has a “lazy eye” when she doesn’t have her glasses on. • She was wearing a black tank top under her Exxon shirt, blue jeans and high-heeled boots at the time of the incident. • She has several tattoos, including, a music note and a peace sign on her left ankle, a star on her back, sleeping Z's on her left foot and a sun and moon on her right calf. Anyone who may have tips to contact Silent Observer at 231-72-CRIME (231-722-7463) or call 911. www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2013/05/jessica_heeringas_blood_found.html |
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Post by meme on May 27, 2013 11:44:43 GMT -5
Jessica Heeringa search: Michigan police get high-priority tips over weekend Police looking for a 25-year-old woman who disappeared from her job at a West Michigan gas station last month say they're investigating high-priority tips received over the weekend. Details aren't being released. Norton Shores police Chief Dan Shaw tells The Muskegon Chronicle that "every piece of information we get is beneficial." Shaw says there are a "couple tips" about the case of Jessica Heeringa that have been actively investigated since Sunday. Heeringa disappeared April 26 before she was set to close the station in Norton Shores, near Muskegon. Police said there was no indication of a robbery, and a task force is investigating. Police have released a description of a silver minivan and a man seen in the area. www.freep.com/article/20130520/NEWS06/305200063/Jessica-Heeringa-search-Police-get-high-priority-tips-over-weekend |
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Post by meme on May 27, 2013 11:51:05 GMT -5
Jessica Heeringa missing for one month
12:01 PM, May 27, 2013 NORTON SHORES, Mich. (Detroit Free Press) -- A silver Town & Country minivan may hold the key to solving the mystery: Who abducted Jessica Heeringa? It has been one month since the young mother vanished from a Norton Shores gas station – stolen away, police say they believe, in a minivan. One month since a witness saw the minivan pulling into the gas station near closing time. One month since surveillance captured grainy footage of the minivan barreling north through the night. Days turned into weeks and then into a month. With little evidence and no surveillance video from the Exxon, police are piecing the case together one thread at a time. They're in search of a major clue: That minivan. As her loved ones pass out missing persons posters and rally through social media, investigators have analyzed cell phone data, investigated persons of interest, fielded about 2,000 tips – including some from other countries, and whittled down the pool of possible vans. "You name it," Norton Shores Police Chief Daniel Shaw said, "we're doing it." Detective Sgt. Michael Kasher, the lead detective on the case, said 1,700 Town & Country minivans – a few hundred within Muskegon County and surrounding counties – fit the criteria, which includes 2003 to 2006 models. The search for the van has been vast: Between 50 and 60 minivan owners have been interviewed, police have looked into stolen vans and those being sold, and a silver minivan with a Michigan license plate was pulled over in Arkansas, officials said. The time line is pretty short for a van to be there at the exact time that Heeringa, 25, was abducted, Kasher said. "That's something we have to look at hard – and we have been," he said. Time line of case Heeringa vanished the night of April 26 near closing time. She was working alone. Somehow she was drawn out to the back of the building, where a small spot of her blood was found, Kasher said. The garbage hadn't been taken out, the cash drawer was left on the counter, her purse was left behind and nothing in the station had been disturbed, police said. A fellow Exxon Mobil employee was driving past when she saw a minivan drive behind the station, Kasher said. The woman turned around, drove past the station again and saw a man – who has been described as being about 30 to 40 years old – getting into the van, Kasher said.
Police have said Heeringa's last sale was made at 10:50 p.m. Less than a half hour later, a customer called 911 to say the station was open, but no one was there, police have said.
Police say they believe Heeringa knows her abductor. Investigators are looking into the possibility that more than one person is involved in her disappearance, Kasher said. He said the names of three men, who have been considered persons of interest, continue to surface through the course of the investigation. Kasher said the men are customers and acquaintances of Heeringa and some of the information they provided to police didn't add up.
The blood outside of the station indicates she was injured, but maybe not severely, police said.
Police said they are still operating under the belief that Heeringa is alive. "We're still focused on the No. 1 goal that we had from day one," Shaw said, "and that is to find Jessica." Loved ones have hope The long wait for answers has extended the anguish for Heeringa's loved ones. "Every time you wake up in the morning, you think, 'Oh, no, another day,' " her grandmother Diane Homrich said. "We never thought it would go on this long." She said her granddaughter's disappearance has affected her concentration and made everyday tasks, such as vacuuming, difficult. "The next thing I know, I've stopped and I'm thinking about her," Homrich said. "A lot of times tears come and I just pray, 'Jessica give us a sign. Give us something.' " She said loved ones believe Heeringa is alive and somewhere in the area, but Homrich thought she would be found within a couple of days of her disappearance. "And we'd live happily ever after," Homrich said. "Maybe, eventually, that will happen." www.wzzm13.com/news/article/257836/14/Jessica-Heeringa-missing-for-one-month
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Post by meme on Jun 5, 2013 1:12:02 GMT -5
CBS News Jessica Heeringa Update: Body found in lake doesn't match description of missing Mich. mom, police say June 04, 2013 Jessica Heeringa, a 25-year-old western Michigan mother, was allegedly abducted Friday, April 26, 2013, from the Exxon Mobil gas station where she worked as a clerk in Norton Shores, Mich. Facebook (CBS/AP) PARK TOWNSHIP, Mich. -Police officials say a man on a personal watercraft found a body floating in a western Michigan lake Monday, but the body does not match the description of Jessica Heeringa, the 25-year-old woman who disappeared April 26 from her job at a gas station in Norton Shores. Mich. mom vanishes from gas station The Holland Sentinel and MLive.com report the body was discovered Monday afternoon on Lake Macatawa in Ottawa County, and the Coast Guard pulled it from the water. The sheriff's department says an autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday in an effort to identify the body. "Based on the description I got from Ottawa County authorities, I don't believe it's Jessica," Norton Shores Police Chief Dan Shaw said, according to MLive.com Officials have reportedly not confirmed whether the body is male or female and it is unknown if there were any signs of foul play. "It doesn't sound like they have a lot to work with, but it doesn't sound like Jessica," Shaw said, according to the news site. Heeringa, a 25-year-old Michigan mother, is believed to have been taken against her will April 26 around 11 p.m., shortly before she was set to close the Exxon gas station where she worked in Norton Shores. Shaw previously told The Muskegon Chronicle that Heeringa likely knew her abductor and police are working to identify a suspect. Authorities have said they are looking to speak to the driver of a gray- or silver-colored minivan, possibly a Chrysler Town and County, that was seen at the gas station at the time of Heeringa's disappearance. A reward of up to $15,000 has been offered for a tip leading to an arrest in the case. Anyone who may have information regarding the disappearance is asked to call 231-733-2691. Complete coverage of the Jessica Heeringa disappearance on Crimesider m.cbsnews.com/storysynopsis.rbml?&pageType=general&catid=57587547&feed_id=999&videofeed=999&nb_splitPage=3 |
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Post by meme on Jul 12, 2013 15:17:23 GMT -5
Jessica Heeringa missing two months, private investigator reveals new clues
6:51 AM, Jun 19, 2013NORTON SHORES, Mich. (WZZM) -- It's been 54 days since Jessica Heeringa disappeared from her job at a Norton Shores gas station. The national media attention has gone away and tips are coming in at a much slower pace. If police have a strong theory or even just a solid hunch, they're not saying. Truth is not much more is known about Jessica's disappearance today than almost two months ago. WZZM 13 has dedicated multiple journalists to the story but as the mystery grew we asked what more could we do to uncover clues? That's why WZZM hired a licensed private investigator to go beyond what our reporters were doing. We are not identifying her so as to not jeopardize her work. Lee VanAmeyde spoke with her. Q: You've been doing this for a month now, take me through the process, how you investigate, who you talk to. A: I came here several nights to get the lay of the land, as to what would be occurring at 11 at night, what I found is that there are several businesses that are open at 11 and quite a bit of traffic that might use the Exxon station. Many of those businesses are located in the nearby strip mall and WZZM 13's investigator was able to talk to workers and customers who are accustomed to being in the area. They told her that on the night Jessica Heeringa disappeared there were, at the time, what seemed like minor things out of the ordinary. One example; The back of the Exxon station was totally dark. Two large security lights on the back wall normally on, were off. The back door which was normally closed, was open. This is where police say Jessica was taken and where a small amount of Jessica's blood was found. WZZM 13's investigator talked to other people who questioned the initial police response, some alleging there was little care given to protect what was likely a crime scene. Q: Tell me if there is anything that stands out about the case itself or how it's been investigated. A: I would say it's unfortunate that a lot of things don't stand out and some of the things I find routine are not good things. By that I mean after speaking with witnesses, that there had been no crime scene tape put at the site and without that, anybody can invade the area. If you allow people to dirty up the scene, you really can't take anything from the scene and regard it as evidence. Norton Shores Police Chief Dan Shaw says he is confident everything was done to protect the scene. "Once the officers arrived on scene there was no traffic around the crime scene area. Our officers did secure the area and collected the evidence and cleared the scene," Shaw told WZZM 13. Shaw says there was no crime tape because the area was so small it did not require it. Over the last month WZZM 13's investigator talked to people who were among the hundreds who called in tips, but some said their tips were never followed up by police. Others in the community offered theories as to motives and possible suspects but none were willing to go on the record, let alone on camera. "In situations like this and particular this area, it's a small town feel and witnesses will know each other, probably know the families involved and maybe even the owner of the Exxon," explained our investigator. The one lead that held the most potential early on were reports of a silver van seen leaving the scene. Blurry images of the van were caught on nearby cameras but they were not clear enough for that big break everyone was looking for. However we've now learned that before Jessica's disappearance, a silver van was spotted by a worker across the street. He told our investigator that around 10:30 p.m. on Friday, April 26, the night Jessica Hearing disappeared, he saw a silver van driving slowly and suspiciously around the building where he worked. Q: So just to get it correct, the silver van circled around and went down the street and then turned around, faced the Exxon station down the street? A: That's correct, the witness said he saw the van go down the street and face the Exxon for at least 10 or 15 minutes. Despite these and many other tips, we have no clearer picture today of what happened to Jessica than the night she disappeared. "In a community with people willing to come forward, who do have ideas, and alternate theories, I truly believe this effort has to be an ongoing one," said our investigator. Police Chief Dan Shaw says his department is still going through leads and they do have people of interest they are continuing to focus on. He is confident they will solve the case. www.wzzm13.com/news/article/259133/2/Jessica-Heeringa-missing-two-months-private-investigator-reveals-new-clues
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Post by earl on Jul 14, 2013 19:51:04 GMT -5
Thanks for your updates on this case and the others here meme. Hope this one gets solved.
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Post by meme on Jul 15, 2013 18:54:14 GMT -5
Thanks for your updates on this case and the others here meme. Hope this one gets solved. you're welcome earl, lets hope so  |
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Post by meme on Jul 29, 2013 23:47:35 GMT -5
June 4, 2013 11:10 AM
Jessica Heeringa Update: Body found in lake doesn't match description of missing Mich. mom, police say(CBS/AP) PARK TOWNSHIP, Mich. - Police officials say a man on a personal watercraft found a body floating in a western Michigan lake Monday, but the body does not match the description of Jessica Heeringa, the 25-year-old woman who disappeared April 26 from her job at a gas station in Norton Shores. The Holland Sentinel and MLive.com report the body was discovered Monday afternoon on Lake Macatawa in Ottawa County, and the Coast Guard pulled it from the water. The sheriff's department says an autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday in an effort to identify the body. "Based on the description I got from Ottawa County authorities, I don't believe it's Jessica," Norton Shores Police Chief Dan Shaw said, according to MLive.com Officials have reportedly not confirmed whether the body is male or female and it is unknown if there were any signs of foul play. "It doesn't sound like they have a lot to work with, but it doesn't sound like Jessica," Shaw said, according to the news site. Heeringa, a 25-year-old Michigan mother, is believed to have been taken against her will April 26 around 11 p.m., shortly before she was set to close the Exxon gas station where she worked in Norton Shores. Shaw previously told The Muskegon Chronicle that Heeringa likely knew her abductor and police are working to identify a suspect.
Authorities have said they are looking to speak to the driver of a gray- or silver-colored minivan, possibly a Chrysler Town and County, that was seen at the gas station at the time of Heeringa's disappearance. A reward of up to $15,000 has been offered for a tip leading to an arrest in the case. Anyone who may have information regarding the disappearance is asked to call 231-733-2691.
www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57587547-504083/jessica-heeringa-update-body-found-in-lake-doesnt-match-description-of-missing-mich-mom-police-say/
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Post by meme on Aug 23, 2013 20:14:21 GMT -5
Jessica Heeringa abduction case: Grandparents 'disheartened' as 100th day since disappearance nears
Exxon Mobil gas station where 25-year-old Jessica Heeringa was allegedly abducted at about 11 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2013. "I stopped by the gas station and hung out with her a few hours before she disappeared," Lunsford said. "She's my best friend, and I have no one to tell my secrets to anymore." Hundreds gathered at Pointes Mall in Norton Shores, close to where Heeringa worked, to light candles, show support to her family, and pray for her well being. www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2013/08/jessica_heeringa_abduction_cas_2.html
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Post by meme on Aug 23, 2013 20:17:49 GMT -5
Jessica Heeringa's fiance on the couples' young son : 'I don't ever want him to forget his mother'
MUSKEGON, MI – Her address hasn’t changed. Her cell phone number and her fiance's Facebook page information remains the same. Her son sleeps under the same roof he had before her disappearance. Jessica Heeringa’s life will be just as she left it when she’s returned to her family, said Dakotah Quail-Dyer, the fiancé of the missing 26-year-old gas station clerk who apparently disappeared on April 26. Quail-Dyer said he strongly believes Heeringa is alive and will keep things in order for when she’s returned. It isn't about "if" she comes home, it's about "when," he says. “I’m working on trying to keep the house. I’m trying to keep the phone on in case she calls. This is the only number she knows. I’m just struggling to keep everything working,” he said. He remains at the same rental home in Muskegon that they lived in before Heeringa disappeared. He’s since got a job at a local Muskegon restaurant as a cook in an effort to supplement the income the family once had from Heeringa’s job as a gas station clerk. Sunday, Aug. 4, marked the 100th day that the petite, blonde Muskegon gas station clerk disappeared, allegedly abducted while finishing her night shift at the Norton Shores Exxon gas station on Sternberg Road. Jessica Heeringa, now 26, pictured here with her son, Zevyn, 3 1/2. Dakotah Quail-Dyer The couples' 3½-year-old son, Zevyn, stays with Quail-Dyer, but his parents help him out with child care while he's at work. Quail-Dyer said he doesn’t hear from Heeringa’s side of the family and has relied on the support and generosity of close friends to keep the wheels turning at home. As a father, Quail-Dyer said it’s important that he keeps Heeringa’s memory alive in the mind of their young son. “I don’t keep her off his mind. Every night he goes to bed I tell him that his mommy loves him. I tell him that she wants to be home but she can’t. I don’t ever want him to forget his mother,” he said. “We say she’s lost. He knows that somebody took her. He told me the other day that he’s going to get bigger and take care of the bad guys.” Authorities said last week that the investigation remains a priority for the Norton Shores Police Department. However solid leads haven’t trickled into the department in a while and as of Aug. 6 a suspect or suspects hadn’t yet been identified, and Heeringa remained missing. Quail-Dyer said he’s just waiting for new information to come in. “I don’t hear a single thing from police. I haven’t talked to the lead detective in about a month, but it’s pretty much the same stuff (that police have been working on since she disappeared),” he said. Quail-Dyer said he doesn’t have a “gut feeling” one way or another on what could have happened to his fiancé. But if pressed, he said he believes she could have been taken out of the area for sex trafficking.
“I think she’s alive. I just don’t feel like she’s gone,” he said. Authorities haven’t publicly discussed theories on her disappearance, but have said they don’t have any evidence to indicate she’s deceased at this point.
Anyone with tips in Heeringa's disappearance is asked to contact Silent Observer at 231-72-CRIME (231-722-7463), or the Norton Shores Police Department at 231-733-2691.
A $15,000 reward is being offered for information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of those involved in Heeringa’s disappearance. Heeringa is described as a white female, 5 feet 1 inch tall, about 110 pounds, with blond, shoulder-length hair and blue eyes. Heeringa is also known to wear wire-rim glasses. She was last wearing a blue collared shirt with "Sternberg Exxon" on it, the police chief has said.
Authorities said a witness saw a silver minivan -- possibly a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country -- in the area around the time she was reported missing.
Authorities describe the driver of that vehicle as a 6-foot-tall white man who appears to be 30 to 40 years old. He has medium to heavy build with broad shoulders, light brown or sandy blond, wavy hair with a part in the middle with hair slightly longer on top.www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2013/08/jessica_heeringas_fiance_on_th.html
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Post by meme on Nov 7, 2013 18:27:37 GMT -5
User Accusations Create Controversy on ‘Find Jessica Heeringa’ Page
NORTON SHORES, Mich. — It’s been six months since Jessica Heeringa was abducted from a gas station in Norton Shores, and now the Facebook page created to raise awareness about her disappearance is heating up as accusations fly throughout the threads. More than 21,000 people like the ‘Find Jessica Heeringa’ Facebook page. Many of them come to the site from across the world to express their condolences to the family. Recently, though, people are being accused of knowing more information about her disappearance than they’re coming forward with. Commenters, are telling specific people to come forward with what they know, usually by writing out their initials. “I don’t want people accusing anybody of anything, and we aren’t accusing anyone. We just want people to speak up and that’s all we ask for,” said Carrie Mitchell, the Find Jessica Heeringa Facebook page administrator. “Most of that does not come from us. Most of that comes from the general public: people that follow Jessica’s case. People that know what’s going on.“ Chief Daniel Shaw with the Norton Shores Police Department has been leading the way on this case since Heeringa was abducted from the Exxon Mobil in Norton Shores in April. “Be careful of jumping to conclusions,” Shaw said. ”That’s what I’ve said from the start. We follow the evidence. We don’t jump to conclusions because then we go off on the wrong track and then innocent people can get hurt.” But, that’s not the chief’s only concern. “It’s causing some difficulties for our investigators because they’ll get tips that are based on the rumors we have to follow up on them.” The family has created a petition to move Jessica’s case from the NSPD into the hands of Michigan State Police. Shaw said their department has been working with MSP from the beginning and are still investigating the case on a daily basis. Read more: fox17online.com/2013/11/04/user-accusations-create-controversy-on-find-jessica-heeringa-page/#ixzz2k0OrJfhs
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Post by meme on Nov 7, 2013 18:30:32 GMT -5
Police no closer to finding Jessica Heeringa
7:00 PM, Oct 5, 2013 MUSKEGON, Mich. (WZZM) - It's been over five months since 26 year-old Jessica Heeringa disappeared, and Norton Shores Police say they are no closer to finding her. Now her family says it's time to ramp up the investigation. Heeringa vanished on the night of April 26th, at the Exxon gas station in Norton Shores, where she worked. Norton Shores Police Chief Daniel Shaw told WZZM 13 Saturday there are no new leads in the investigation, but says his department gets about 40 calls a week related to the Heeringa case. Now friends and volunteers from all over Michigan are doing their part to keep the search alive. 200 motorcycles left the same Exxon station Jessica Disappeared from, driving across the Lakeshore and arriving at the Hot Rod Harley Davidson in Muskegon. "If Jessica was here, that's where we would put her today," said Theresa Smith, pointing to the back seat of her husband's motorcycle. "This is her bear, and he's riding for Jessica today." Hot Rod Harley Davidson was one stop on their fundraising ride to Cancun Connection in Muskegon. The family hopes to raise enough money for private investigators. "We've put a lot of time and hard work into this and we really want her to come home," said Smith. Smith doesn't even know the Heeringa family, and either do the three people who organized the fundraiser. But they all share something. "I'm a mom," said Smith. "I've got a daughter the same age as Jessica, if something was to happen to my daughter, I would pray that this would happen for her," said DJ Brown of Grand Haven, who helped organized the motorcycle ride. "I'm about the same age as her...I have four children and she has a little boy and he's not going to see his mom until she's home," said Kayla Lade, who started a Facebook page. FindJessicaHeeringa Lade travelled with her mom Karlene Bradford from Midland, about 3.5 hours away to be here. Saturday was their first time meeting Jessica's grandma and the rest of the family. "I couldn't imagine the pain the mom and grandma is going through," said Bradford. "This is what keeps us going, people like this, complete strangers," said Jessica's grandmother, Diane Homrich. "When people come together like this huge group, it just reinforces our hopes and prayers that's she's hanging on and she's still out there," said Homrich. Chief Shaw says the task force has disbanded, right now there's just two police detectives working the case. Anyone who thinks they might be able to help should call Norton Shores Police at 231-733-2691 Silent Observer at 231-72-CRIME.
www.wzzm13.com/news/article/269921/2/Ride-for-Jessica-Heeringa
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Post by meme on Nov 7, 2013 18:34:38 GMT -5
Police Still Investigating Disappearance Of Jessica Heeringa
October 26, 2013 7:30 PMNORTON SHORES (WWJ/AP) - Police investigating the disappearance a 25-year-old woman from her job at a western Michigan gas station nearly six months ago continue to press ahead on the investigation and hold out hope she will be found alive. Jessica Heeringa disappeared April 26 before she was set to close the station in Norton Shores. Police think she was taken against her will by someone she likely knew. Police said there was no indication of a robbery, as Heeringa’s purse, vehicle and other items were left behind at the scene. DNA testing showed a small amount of blood found outside the gas station belonged to Heeringa. Investigators have released a description of a silver minivan and a man seen in the area, and a task force has been working on the case. “Obviously the odds are not in our favor at this point. Typically, the longer the time goes, the less likely there is for a successful outcome,” Norton Shores Police Chief Dan Shaw, whose department is leading the investigation, told The Muskegon Chronicle. “We hope to be on the outliers in that statistic and we hope to bring her home. But that’s not how we’re addressing the case,” Shaw added. “We keep telling ourselves every day that she is out there and we have to go find her.” Investigators continue to conduct interviews and track tips, Shaw said. The reward for information in the case is more than $15,000. Dakotah Quail-Dyer, Heeringa’s fiancé and the father of their 3-year-old son, Zevyn, said he has been keeping newspaper articles about the case for a scrapbook. He said he hopes to use it one day as a way to explain to his son what happened to his mother. “Me and Zevyn are hanging in there, I guess,” Quail-Dyer said. “He’s really distraught. It’s becoming harder on him.” Her family and friends have continued to hold out hope she will be found safe, but the passing weeks make it harder to stay positive, Quail-Dyer said. “I always say I feel like she is coming home, but it’s been six months now. I didn’t think it would be this long,” he said. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call 231-733-2691 or 911. detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/10/26/police-still-investigating-disappearance-of-jessica-heeringa/
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Post by meme on Nov 7, 2013 18:56:00 GMT -5
Heeringa family still waiting to be reunited with Jessica Updated:
Tuesday, November 5 2013, 06:47 PM EST
NEWAYGO COUNTY, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Six months after she was freed from the house where Ariel Castro held her captive for 11 years, Cleveland kidnapping victim Michelle Knight is speaking out in an exclusive interview with Dr. Phil. That interview aired at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday on Newschannel 3. While one family is thankful to be reunited with their loved one, a Michigan family is still waiting for theirs to come home. 25-year-old Jessica Heeringa has been missing for more than 6 months. She was last seen at the Exxon Mobil gas station in Norton Shores on April 26. There have been very few clues into her disappearance, with only a few drops of her blood found at the scene. Jessica Heeringa’s family has been working with a private investigator since 2 weeks after her disappearance, but he’s come up with nothing more than police—and as time passes, her grandmother say each day gets more difficult. For 6 months, Diane Homrich has waited for news. “Every time the phone rings my heart skips a beat,” she said. Back in April, when Jessica went missing, Homrich never believed months would pass. “A few days, she would be back with us, and we’d live happily ever after,” she said of her thoughts then. But the clock stopped for no one. “The days pass, and the weeks pass, and there’s still no news,” Homrich said. As weeks turned into months, each day gets harder. “It's really, really, really difficult,” Homrich said. “We’ll never give up hope ever—but its still difficult to go on.” Homrich has started journaling to help her cope. Something counselors at Gilda's Club in Grand Rapids say is extremely important. But Homrich is also using her journal to construct a timeline. “ (I) tried to jot down all the times and the people involved,” she explained. A sort of mini-investigation—from her own home. “I'm even to the point where I'm writing down rumors and who I heard it from, and I contact them and ask them – where did you hear this,” Homrich said. But as time ticks on, fewer tips roll in, and people forget. “It's very discouraging,” Homrich said. “And we have to decide as a family what we’re going to do next.” The family has started a petition to move the case from Norton Shores Police to the Michigan State Police. “Very frustrated,” she said about the decision. “You know, we need Norton Shores PD, we don’t want to step on their toes, but they’re a small PD.” And Homrich is planning to do whatever it takes to bring her granddaughter home. “We are not gonna give up hope,” she said. “We’re not gonna let it turn into a cold case.” In response to that petition, Norton Shores Police say they have been working with MSP on this case since day 1. They say the issue isn't who’s handling it, but rather—a lack of evidence. Read More at: wwmt.com/shared/news/features/top-stories/stories/wwmt_heeringa-family-still-waiting-reunited-jessica-15360.shtml
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