Mother of missing teen speaks out

PURVIS, Miss. (WDAM) – The search continues for 14-year-old Nicole Jones, who family said she hadn't seen in a week.

Jones' mother, Jesse Jones, said family and the community have tirelessly searched for her and left posters across the Pine Belt and social media.

“We've gone to people's doors,” Jesse Jones said. “My family keeps reposting it on Facebook. We put out a BOLO report. We don't really know what else to do. Everybody just wants her back home and safe.”

Jesse Jones said the last time she saw her daughter, she was safe and seemed perfectly fine. Now, Jesse Jones said she had no idea where Nicole Jones could be.

“The last time we saw her was Saturday night,” Jesse Jones said. “She was sleeping. It was around 11:48 (pm), almost 11:50 (pm), and then I went to sleep,” she said.

When Jesse Jones woke up the next day around 6 am, Nicole Jones was gone.

That was on Sept. 8.

Since then, there has only been one clue as to where Nicole Jones could be, but search efforts in that area came up empty as well.

“They said that her phone pinged on Entrekin and Ida Bounds in Lumberton, which is Forrest County,” Jesse Jones said. “That's why Forrest County was getting involved in it. We searched all over there and we haven’t been able to find a trace of her.”

Jesse Jones said Lamar County investigators told her it could be a few weeks before they can access Nicole's phone records.

In the meantime, Jesse Jones said she is just trying to cope with her daughter's absence.

“I actually cried over a box of her shoes because we had just ordered her some shoes that she wanted and she's not there to wear them,” Jesse Jones said. “When I opened the package because I didn't realize what it was, I saw what it was, and I cried over her box of shoes.”

Jesse Jones said disappearing with no explanation is out of character for Nicole Jones.

“She was a good kid,” Jesse Jones said. “She didn't really cause any problems. Just an average teenager with an attitude. We wish we knew where she was.”

The entire family just hopes to see the 14-year-old soon.

“I'm too worried about her being angry,” Jesse Jones said. “Wherever she is, I hope she's safe. But, please come home.”

Although Lamar County Sheriff's Department is the lead investigating agency in the search for Nicole Jones, anyone with information can contact the Purvis or Lumberton police departments as well.

Want more WDAM 7 news in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

Copyright 2024 WDAM. All rights reserved.