Missing
Jahi Marques Turner
Jahi, approximately 2002; Age when reported missing: 15 (approximately 2015); Tameka Jones in 2002; Tieray Jones in 2002; Tieray Jones in 2016; Sketch of female witness in Balboa Park, 2002
Date and time person was reported missing : 04/25/2002
Missing location (approx) :
San Diego, California
Missing classification : Endangered Missing
Gender : Male
Ethnicity :
Black
DOB : 02/10/2000 (21)
Age at the time of disappearance: 2 years old
Height / Weight : 2'11, 35 pounds
Description, clothing, jewerly and more : A long-sleeved navy blue shirt imprinted with imAge at the time of disappearance: s of the cartoon characters Winnie The Pooh and Tigger, blue nylon cargo pants with an orange drawstring and extra pockets on the knees, and gray size 8 1/2 or 9 Air Jordan sneakers.
Distinguishing characteristics, birthmarks, tattoos
: African-American male. Black hair, brown eyes. Jahi is ambidextrous. He has a light complexion with eczema in the creases of his body and a scar over his knee.
Information on the case from local sources, may or may not be correct : Jahi moved to the Golden Hill area of San Diego, California on April 21, 2002. He lived with his mother, Tameka Jones, and stepfather, Tieray Dewayne Jones, in United States military housing in the 3400 block of Beech Street.
Tameka was a sailor in the United States Navy at the time and was deployed aboard the U.S.S. Rushmore while Tieray looked after Jahi. The two apparently slept in the same bed, although the child had a bedwetting problem.
Jahi previously resided with his maternal grandmother in Maryland. Tameka took him to California the day before her deployment. Photos of Tameka and Tieray are posted with this case summary. Jahi's biological father lived in Frederick, Maryland and had recently been released from prison. He and Tameka had not maintained their relationship after she became pregnant, and he had never been part of Jahi's life.
Tieray told authorities that he and Jahi visited Balboa Park in the Golden Hill area near 28th Street and Cedar Street on April 25, 2002. The playground is in the 2800 block of Beech Street.
Tieray said that he left Jahi near the sandbox while he purchased a soda from a nearby vending machine. He stated that a woman and two children were near the area at the time. He claimed that Jahi had vanished by the time he returned. Jahi has never been heard from again.
Tieray searched the park and also walked around the block looking for him for fifteen to twenty minutes, then called 911 to report his disappearance at 2:30 p.m. An extensive search of the area produced no clues as to Jahi's whereabouts. Authorities announced that Tieray said he left his stepson unattended for approximately 15 minutes; Tieray denied the statement and claimed that Jahi was unchaperoned for less than that amount of time.
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