Posted on 08/17/2005 11:05:10 AM PDT by BizzeeMom
Authorities in Jefferson County announced Wednesday morning that a new task force comprised of 17 police officers is taking over the investigation of a missing pregnant woman last seen Sunday evening.
Lt. Col. Steven Meinberg said the task force met for the first time at 8 a.m. Wednesday. The announcement was made at morning press conference that was supposed to be held at the main meeting room of the sheriff’s office. The briefing had to moved outdoors, because the task force has taken over the meeting room to accommodate officers assigned to the unit from five other Jefferson County police agencies.
Meinberg said officers from Crystal City, Festus, Herculaneum, Hillsboro and Pevely have joined the task force. He said the unit is contact with the FBI, but that the federal agency isn’t actively involved in the investigation. The task force is headed by Lt. Tommy Wright, the head of the detective bureau at the sheriff’s office.
Amanda Jones, 26, of Pevely, was last seen at the horse-show grounds of the Hillsboro Civic Center on Highway 21 in central Jefferson County about 5 p.m. Sunday. Police found Jones’ unlocked car at the civic center but said it offered no clues as to her
(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...
He's got to be out of his flipping mind if he thought he could get away with doing anything more than intimidating her.
She's from Pevely, she disappeared from Hillsboro, they met at the Hillsboro civic club horseshow grounds, from what I heard, so that he could take her to dinner (somewhere else, don't know where). It's not that remote, really. Right along Hwy 21 which is the main drag through town.
There apparently *was* a surveillance video from the Festus, MO Walgreens that shows her buying a soda and hairspray at 12:30 or so....she was to meet him at 1pm in Hillsboro. I don't know how to link it, but that story is at Fox2 KTVI's website.
Thanks for your prayers.
Thank you.
No, he's not married. Don't know about cell phone records, I had heard they were trying to use her cell phone to track her location. Apparently it didn't work. :(
I have heard that she did want child support...don't know if she told him that or not. I don't know if paternity was verified yet. Can that be done prenatally? I thought it had to be done after birth.
Have to leave for a bit, will check in later.
Thanks...
I certainly hope they checked the guy out and his car and his house/apt. If it's true that he had expressed no desire to have anything to do with her or the baby, I wonder why she would meet with him? If he wanted to take her to dinner, he could have picked her up wherever she lived. Or she could have met him at a restaurant. I'm ranting....like I know he did something to her! sorry
I just wish that women in relationships that aren't going that well would be more cautious! Poor woman.
I agree with you about caution...I thought too, gee, I wish she'd not have gone alone, ya' know? But hindsight's 20/20.
He has a lawyer, since Monday I think I read, and it was stated by him that "his client" had allowed his home to be searched.
Just drove by the courthouse/sheriff's dept. a little while ago...Hillsboro is the county seat...and there are two news satellite trucks parked there. Fox2 KTVI and KMOV.
I know....hindsight....Bless her and her baby. And the little 4 year old who must be so confused. I pray she's just a "runaway mom" and all will be ok.
Maybe there will be some news....good news, I hope!
Freepers we need your help and prayers here.
I hope she continues to do so until Amanda is found...
I don't know him, but I went to high school with his older brother. Don't know his job status either but believe his folks have a farm.
MISSING PREGNANT WOMAN NEEDS MEDICATION TO KEEP HER ALIVE
Amanda Jones' family says the unmarried woman was diagnosed with Graves Disease and needs thyroid pills to keep her alive. Further, we found medication for the unborn child. The home certainly does not appear to be one of a woman who would simply leave on her own. There is an entire bedroom well equipped for an infant. There are even diapers and a sign on the door reading 'Baby Hayden's room.' She had positioned a bassinet in her own bedroom for when she first brought baby Hayden home from the hospital. The home is full of memories of her high school graduation, her bowling team activities, photos of Dolly Parton whom she adored, and the beloved dolphins she collected. The family says she was hoping to name the child Hayden Lucas Westfall after the man she believed to be the father, Byron Lee Westfall. After not communicating for nine months, he called her last week to meet her at the Hillsboro Civic Center, where they met back in December. She was planning to ask for his permission to name the child in his honor. Then she vanished.
The sheriff says investigators are no longer talking directly with Westfall. All communications are now going through an attorney he's hired. Still the sheriff says both Westfall and his attorney have been cooperating fully. He says Westfall is not a suspect.
Amanda has a four-year-old daughter from a previous marriage. She currently is living with other relatives.
More than a dozen investigators, including agents from the FBI are on the manhunt. Sheriff's deputies found her blue Pontiac Sunfire unlocked in the parking lot of the Hillsboro Civic Center. Jones' purse, her keys and her cell phone are all missing. A half-hour before the meeting, Jones stopped off a Walgreens store in Festus. The video was taken by store surveillance cameras. They record she entered the store at 12:27pm shortly after she left the Calvary Assembly of God church where she attended with her parents. After shopping for a few minutes, she left the store at 12:35pm. She spent $10.89 on a her Eagle Bank debit card, where she works as a loan processor. She purchased a Dr. Pepper soft drink a can of V05 hair spray and a clip used a key ring.
Amanda Jones is 5 feet 8 inches tall weighing about 225 pounds with blue eyes and blonde hair. She has a dolphin tattoo on her upper left torso. If you have any information on her whereabouts, call the Jefferson County sheriff's department at 636-797-5515.
http://www.fox2ktvi.com/
The power of prayer is immeasurable. Please keep this woman and her family and friends in yours.
Poor lamb, and her poor little baby. I'm afraid I am not too optimistic, but with God all things are possible.
Very sad. I fear this is another case where the father of the unborn baby didn't like the idea of paying child support for 18 years.
I fear this too, and hope it is not the case.
Thank you for your prayers.
They should be doing a thorough search of that farm right about now. And of all the places the creep liked to hunt at.
Thank you!
Agreed. I hope they are. My husband was just in town and saw helicopters with search lights buzzing around the outskirts.
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