|
Post by Sher on Sept 13, 2005 15:53:01 GMT -5
click image for full viewA massive search is underway in Ottawa's southwest Barrhaven community for a teenager who vanished without a trace late Thursday night. The father of Jennifer Teague is clinging to the hope that the 40 strangers helping authorities scour the area will find clues as to the disappearance of his 18-year-old daughter. "We're heartbroken" says Ed Teague. "We don't know where she is and someone does." Jennifer was last seen with a girlfriend at a nearby convenience store after completing her late-night shift at Wendy's on Wednesday night into the early hours of Thursday morning. "No one has seen or heard from her since," said her friend Alisa Blais. Suspicions were raised when Jennifer failed to show up for a crucial soccer match on Saturday morning. Neither her cell phone nor bank card has been used since she disappeared. Police sense foul play and have brought in reinforcements from the OPP and RCMP to assist in the search. "Obviously we're looking in the whole area grid, hasty search of all the bushes, backyards, things like that" says Sgt. Brad Hampson of the Ottawa Police. Dozens of volunteers have signed up to assist police in the search. "I volunteer because I can't believe this is happening" says Kelly Fuoco. "Anything we can do." "I have four kids and I know how I'd feel if it was one of mine" says Andrew Bruce. Jennifer attends Elizabeth Wyn Wood, an alternate school where she is known to be a leader. The last time police undertook a search of this magnitude was for Ardeth Wood -- whose body was found five days after her disappearance in 2003. However, police are careful not to draw comparisons from case to case. As the dragnet expands, her father has not lost hope. "I'm trying to stay positive, that a miracle will happen and she'll walk through the door and say hi, I'm home."
|
|
|
Post by Sher on Sept 13, 2005 15:53:35 GMT -5
Police and volunteers continue to search Tuesday in Ottawa's southwest Barrhaven community for a teenager who vanished without a trace last week.
Ottawa police received two separate reports from witnesses who say they heard sounds in an area where 18-year-old Jennifer Teague would have walked after finishing her late-night shift at Wendy's.
Police Staff Sgt. Monique Ackland said at a press conference Tuesday she couldn't confirm the exact nature of the sounds.
But Barrhaven resident Lise Martens told reporters earlier that she was woken by the sound of a woman's screams.
"It appears that the two reports that were made came from generally the same area," said Ackland.
"It was hard to pinpoint the exact time," she added. "It was at the time approximately that Jennifer disappeared."
Martens' home backs onto Jockvale Road, near where Ottawa police have set up their command post.
Police and volunteers, meanwhile, continue a detailed ground search that's been underway since Saturday in the quiet suburban community in Ottawa's southwest.
Early Tuesday morning, an RCMP helicopter from Montreal equipped with an infra-red camera joined the search.
Ottawa police have set up an email address for anyone with information about Teague: infojennifer@ottawapolice.ca
Teague has been missing since early morning Thursday after finishing her shift at a Wendy's restaurant. Her friends last saw her at about 1:30 a.m. ET before she began her walk alone to her mother's house.
"We're heartbroken" said Ed Teague, who last spoke with his daughter Wednesday afternoon after she had returned from school. "We don't know where she is and someone does."
He's clinging to the hope that the 40 strangers helping authorities scour the area will find clues as to the disappearance of Jennifer.
He said on CTV's Canada AM Tuesday that his daughter sometimes gets a ride home with a friend after work, but that she usually walks home alone along the same route.
Police suspect foul play and have launched a massive search for the girl, bringing in reinforcements from the Ontario Provincial Police and RCMP.
Suspicions were raised when Jennifer failed to show up for a crucial soccer match on Saturday morning. Neither her cell phone nor bank card has been used since she disappeared.
As the search expands, Ed Teague said he hasn't lost hope.
"I believe there's a contingent of 28 or more RCMP officers who have now joined the search. So we're just keeping the hope up and they're continuing to send out the search teams and they searched all night long."
He said he also finds strength through prayer and support from friends.
"I pray every day and I pray every night. I have friends that show up here and we pray together," he told Canada AM.
"And we have thousands and thousands and thousands of people praying all over the country for Jennifer's safe return."
|
|
|
Post by Sher on Sept 13, 2005 15:55:20 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Sher on Sept 13, 2005 15:56:41 GMT -5
Ed Teague says he won't give up hope that his missing daughter Jennifer will come home shortly.
"There's over 130 civilian volunteers out searching an area of Barhaven," an emotional Ed Teague said, "I continue to be positive that we're going to find Jennifer." 18-year-old Jennifer hasn't been seen since she left a convenience store in the Jockvale-Tartan area around 1:30 Thursday morning.
Search continues
Those volunteers have been armed with walking sticks and water to help deal with the hot weather.
It is the largest one day search in the investigation.
Inspector Tyrus Cameron said that while officers conducting the search are the most visible, there are litterally dozens behind the scenes working on the case as well. "Well over 100." Cameron said.
Those others include pilots, and forensic experts.
A search helicopter is taking part, combing every square inch of the area where Jennifer Teague was last seen.
Two-dozen RCMP officers are also part of the search today.
Jennifer's father has been on scene for most of the day speaking with police and volunteers.
Although police are not officially asking for volunteers to help, more concerned people continue to show up at the Jockvale command post.
Tips continue to pour in
The tips continue but so far, there is nothing that gives any clue as to what happened to the 18-year-old Barrhaven resident.
One woman called police to tell them she remembered hearing screaming one night last week, but she couldn't be sure that it was the same night Jennifer went missing.
That tipster told police the screaming sounded almost muffled, and it sounded like two people arguing. She went to her front door to see if she could see anything, but by then it had stopped.
She said the whole screaming outburst lasted between 30 seconds and a minute, then it went silent.
Since that tip was called in, another person has called, also claiming to have heard screaming.
Jennifer's last known whereabouts
Friends last saw Jennifer walking home from work Thursday morning in the Tartan-Jockvale area.
She was last seen at a convenience store, speaking to a friend.
Previous to that, she had left her part-time job at a local Wendy's restaurant. She was heading to her mother's home.
Ed Teague has criticized Wendy's. He says that when his daughter worked the late-shift at McDonald's, management always made sure that she had a safe way home. He didn't know of that policy being in effect at the Wendy's location where his daughter worked.
Evidence collected
Ottawa Police Staff Sergeant Monique Ackland told CFRA News "numerous items have been collected as evidence" as part of their search.
But Investigators do admit there has been no sign of Jennifer or any clues into her disappearance since she was last seen.
Police suspect foul play
Ottawa Police Major Crime Investigators said on Saturday that they do suspect foul play may be involved in the disappearance.
Her father says Jennifer's bank-card and cell-phone has not been used since she disappeared.
Ackland says investigators may expand the search zone.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police at 236-1222 ext: 5477. An email address has been set up: infojennifer@ottawapolice.ca
Police are asking people in Barrhaven and other areas of the city to keep an eye out for the 18-year-old or any clues in her disappearance. Residents are being told to scan their yards and report anything suspicious.
Teague's description
Teague is described as white, 5' 4", 106 lbs with shoulder length dyed dark brown hair. Police say she was carrying a backpack with her Wendy's uniform inside at the time of her disappearance. She was wearing light blue jeans, red shoes, white tank top and a black zip up sweater.
|
|
|
Post by Sher on Sept 13, 2005 15:57:21 GMT -5
Almost 100 civilian volunteers joined the police search for missing Jennifer Teague yesterday, five days after the Barrhaven teen vanished without a trace.
Joined by Teague's father Ed and stepmother Sylvie, more than 60 searchers lined up a few feet apart yesterday afternoon and meticulously combed the vast Core Park surrounding Mother Teresa High School.
That followed a morning search in the same park on Longfields Dr. by another 32 volunteers, including some of Jennifer's closest friends.
The volunteers were supervised by police in both searches.
FOCUS ON CLOTHING ITEMS
"The biggest thing right now is clothing, anything out of the ordinary," explained Const. Rob Latourell as he prepped volunteers for the search.
Teague said he won't allow himself to be discouraged, no matter how long the search for his 18-year-old daughter takes.
"I'm not going to give up. I'm not going to give up hope," he said. "At this point it might seem like a miracle, but miracles still happen."
While Teague still holds out hope, police seemingly knew little more yesterday than they did a day earlier.
Five officers from the OPP's Emergency Response Team joined more than 50 Ottawa police searchers. Helicopters from Transport Canada and a private company also joined in the search as well as officers on ATVs.
Although the private helicopter company asked not to be identified, the Sun has learned it is a friend of Jennifer's mother Jean who offered to take officers up.
'HEAVY GOING' FOR CREWS
Tired volunteer searchers had no plans of giving up yesterday, despite temperatures that soared to 30C by mid-afternoon and terrain that included heavy woods and high, unkempt grass.
"It was some heavy going out there but people just sucked it up and kept going," said Byron James, 51, a Barrhaven father of six who felt compelled to spend the day searching.
"We've pretty much covered the whole park," said James. "We've covered every inch."
Staff Sgt. Monique Ackland said yesterday police expected to continue searching through the night and into today. Police will then determine whether to expand the search area beyond the current 2-km radius or call off the search.
|
|
|
Post by Sher on Sept 13, 2005 15:58:08 GMT -5
The police investigation into the mysterious disappearance of Jennifer Teague has included checks of recent parolees and sex offenders.
On Saturday, investigators looked into convicted criminals who may live in the Barrhaven area and be a danger to abduct a teenage girl, sources told the Sun.
Police consider foul play a possibility in the 18-year-old's disappearance.
However, no high-risk offenders currently being monitored by the Ottawa police fit the profile of a kidnapper.
Yesterday, Ottawa police Det. Paul Heffler said there is only one high-risk offender living in the Barrhaven area, but he is an unlikely suspect for an abduction.
"He doesn't really fit the profile," said Heffler, head of the department's high-risk offender unit.
Heffler said the man is a pedophile who has shown no past interest in teenage girls.
"He is not someone who has the means to be out and about doing that," said Heffler.
"He's being very tightly monitored."
If police confirm foul play is involved in Teague's disappearance, Heffler warned the suspect may have no criminal past.
"It could be somebody totally off the radar," he said.
|
|
|
Post by Sher on Sept 13, 2005 15:59:35 GMT -5
Jennifer Teague was likely abducted by someone she felt comfortable with, says a private eye experienced in tracking missing people.
If foul play is involved in Jennifer’s disappearance, as police believe, it was likely someone who could convince her to let her guard down long enough to abduct her.
“She either willingly went somewhere or she was taken,” said Michael Corwin, an Albuquerque, N.M.-based licensed private investigator who wrote the Training Manual on Private Investigation. He has worked more than 1,200 cases and has been on the defence teams for several high-profile L.A. homicides.
“I would think it would be somebody she had some kind of contact with or encounter with at the fast-food place, the convenience store,” he said.
Corwin said the person may be someone she would recognize and be willing to talk to late at night while walking alone.
The person may not fit the stereotypical profile of a predator.
“They look like normal guys, they look like nice guys. Most of them are personality-plus when it comes to dealing with women,” said Corwin. Time is critical, as the more time that passes makes it less likely she will be found alive, he said.
|
|
|
Post by Sher on Sept 13, 2005 16:01:13 GMT -5
September 10, 2005
OTTAWA -- The Ottawa Police Service is investigating a missing person incident which occurred early Thursday morning near the corner of Jockvale and Tartan Roads in Barrhaven.
18-year-old Jennifer Teague left work at about one o'clock Thursday morning and told a friend she was walking home, but never arrived.
Teague is about 5'4" tall, white, with blue eyes and shoulder-length brown hair. She was wearing blue jeans, red shoes, a white tank top and a black zip-up sweater at the time of her disappearance.
Anyone with information in regards to this incident or observing this female should call Detective William Barlow of the Adult Missing Persons Unit.
His number is 236-1222 ext. 5115
|
|
|
Post by Sher on Sept 13, 2005 16:03:11 GMT -5
Volunteers search yesterday for clues into the mysterious disappearance of Jennifer Teague, right, a Barrhaven teen missing since last week. Jennifer’s father Ed Teague, centre, and stepmother Sylvie are among the searchers. (Sean Kilpatrick, SUN) A BARRHAVEN woman told police yesterday she heard screams last week coming from the area that 18-year-old Jennifer Teague would have used the night of her disappearance.
"I heard some screams. It woke me up," Lise Martens said yesterday. Her home on Stonebridge Ct. backs onto Jockvale Rd., near where police have set up their command post.
Martens stressed she couldn't remember exactly which night she heard the screams, what time it was and isn't sure they are tied to the Teague disappearance, but believes it was either early Wednesday or Thursday morning.
"It sounded like fighting. Like a husband and wife," she said.
"I thought to myself, who would have a party this late at night in the middle of the week?"
Teague has been missing since early Thursday morning after finishing her shift at a Wendy's restaurant on Strandherd Dr. She was last seen by friends at Jockvale Rd. and Tartan Dr. at about 1:30 a.m. before setting out alone on foot for her mother's house on Kennevale Dr.
Police believe foul play may have been involved in her disappearance.
Martens said the screams awoke her from a sound sleep.
"I sat up in bed and thought, what's going on? The sound was sort of muffled, as if it was a bit too far away," said Martens.
"I went downstairs to look in the front and the noise was not so loud, so I went back upstairs and the noise was gone," she said. "I thought somebody is having an argument and you don't want to get involved."
Martens, who usually sleeps with the windows closed but had them open several nights last week, said she never heard a car and the sound was gone as quickly as it started.
"This all happened within 30 seconds, a minute," she said.
"I looked outside, it was quiet, there was nothing going on."
Martens only told police about the screams yesterday.
She said her memory was only jogged late Saturday night after a door-to-door canvass by police.
'I WAS TOO SLEEPY'
"It was just not vivid enough because I was too sleepy. You know when you wake up sometimes and you think you are dreaming. It was only after thinking about it, that 'Oh my God, I did hear something,' " she said.
Police couldn't confirm whether anyone else heard a scream but welcomed any information the public could provide.
"The investigators will look into every piece of information they receive from witnesses and then they have to verify it," said Ottawa police Staff Sgt. Monique Ackland.
Major crime investigators have devised several theories as to what might have happened to Jennifer, but they have yet to settle on which theory is most plausible.
Meanwhile, at least one detective has been assigned to review every second of surveillance videos from the Mac's store and any other video source police have been able to track down.
Police are also examining several "clues" gathered during the first two days of searching but have yet to determine whether they are significant to the disappearance.
|
|
|
Post by JackAMW on Sept 13, 2005 18:25:48 GMT -5
Girl taken by man , brown hair, pock marked, hair on face, girl is dead, chocked with belt ot cord, saw person on porch and waited. she was killed there at that time and drug away, placed in van or truck. Dumped in water off of high spot, possible bridge. Man was in or by workplace three hours earlier. Other workers saw him and can describe him, also security video will show him there. He does not speak to her. 14.....16. Fir and maple trees, river, Red and white barn.
|
|
|
Post by Jack2 on Sept 13, 2005 18:44:04 GMT -5
A waterwheel is important to locate body, across water in trees. Edward....Ed....Nolan....Nogan
|
|
|
Post by Sher on Sept 14, 2005 2:05:24 GMT -5
Police Receive Tips in Hunt for Jennifer Screams, 'Creepy Man' Reported Wednesday, September 14, 2005 12:11 AM
Seven days after Jennifer Teague was last seen in Barrhaven, Ottawa Police admit they have no solid leads or clues into her disappearance.
Investigators continue to search a two-kilometre area where Jennifer would have been walking last Thursday for any sign of the missing 18-year-old.
Inspector Tyrus Cameron says they are treating everything as a piece of evidence until they determine otherwise. Cameron says they have found items of interest since the search began on Saturday afternoon.
Police confirm they have received two reports of neighbours hearing screams in the area where Jennifer might have walked home last Thursday.
One woman called police to tell them she remembered hearing screaming one night last week, but she couldn't be sure that it was the same night Jennifer went missing.
A report this morning says a teenage girl told investigators she was approached by a "creepy man" only days before Jennifer disappeared. The girl says she was approached by a man while taking out the garbage at work.
120 Ottawa Police, OPP and RCMP officers spent Tuesday searching for any clues in the case.
An RCMP helicopter with infrared technology has also been used to assist in the investigation.
Ottawa Police Major Crime Investigators said on Saturday that they do suspect foul play may be involved in the disappearance.
Her father says Jennifer's bank card and cell-phone has not been used since she disappeared.
Jennifer's last known whereabouts
Friends last saw Jennifer walking home from work Thursday morning in the Tartan-Jockvale area.
She was last seen at a convenience store, speaking to a friend.
Jennifer had left her part-time job at a Wendy's restaurant just after midnight. She was heading to her mother's home.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police at 236-1222 ext: 5477. An email address has been set up: infojennifer@ottawapolice.ca
Police are asking people in Barrhaven and other areas of the city to keep an eye out for the 18-year-old or any clues in her disappearance. Residents are being told to scan their yards and report anything suspicious.
|
|
|
Post by Sher on Sept 15, 2005 15:53:00 GMT -5
Eighteen-year-old Jennifer is white with a thin, fit build. She's about 5-foot-4, 106 lbs. and has blue eyes, shoulder-length, straight dyed dark brown hair. She was last seen carrying a backpack with her Wendy's uniform inside. She was wearing light-coloured blue jeans, a white tank top, red shoes and a black zip-up velveteen-type sweater. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call major crime at 236-1222, ext. 5477, or e-mail infojennifer@ottawa.police.ca ottsun.canoe.ca/News/OttawaAndRegion/2005/09/14/1215830-sun.htmlplease visit link for photo
|
|
|
Post by Sher on Sept 15, 2005 15:54:24 GMT -5
Jennifer Teague: A Shift In The Investigation Tips to be the focus of missing-girl's case Thursday, September 15, 2005 12:56 PM
It's been a week and still there is no sign of Jennifer Teague.
Police are now preparing to enter the next phase of the investigation into the disappearance of the 18-year-old: following up on more than 300 tips.
Staff Sergeant Monique Ackland told CFRA that there is no specific timeline for the end of the search, but they do believe it would be sometime today.
Police Chief Vince Bevan spoke with CFRA's Steve Madely Thursday morning.
The chief said, "We can't discount anything. And I think it's very important to keep those possibilities open to the public as well, so that no one decides not to call with a tip that may be very useful because they think we're focusing on something else."
Chief Bevan also commented on a report that she may have been taken by some former friends that had come back to get her.
"I don't think that there's any doubt in our mind that Jennifer knew people that her parents didn't know that she knew," Bevan said, "I'm not familiar with the rumour, but we are aware that she did know a number of people and had a wide circle of friends."
Bevan says the investigation will not be closed to the three main scenarios they are investigating: She may have gone off by herself, she may have gone with someone else, or she may have been taken.
Police Chief Vince Bevan said there were no plans to expand the ground search.
Multi-faith prayer service tonight
And Teague's Barrhaven neighbours aren't giving up hope she'll be found alive and well.
A multi-faith prayer service will take place this evening at the Fellowship Christian Reform Church on Jockvale, in case of rain, the service will move to the Cedarview Alliance Church on Cedarview Dr.
Jennifer's Father Ed Teague told CFRA "It's a prayer of hope and I want it to be that way."
Pastor Darryl Myers said that prayers from various leaders are meant to case away fears.
"And our prayer offer hope, offer light in the darkness for still what we believe to be true, that Jennifer still could be all right," Pastor Myers said.
The pastor added "She just might walk in today. She just might walk in to this prayer service and that is our greatest hope. Until she returns we will keep the darkness lit around Barrhaven."
Appeals from Jennifer's parents
Jennifer's father Ed Teague told reporters on Wednesday, "Jennifer if you're out there and can hear my voice and are able to, just remember that nothing you could have done would warrant you willingly staying away this period of time. If you would call us and let us know where you're at, everything will be forgotten."
"You may be frightened a bit, maybe all this attention has frightened you a bit, but it doesn't matter, what matters is that you come home and you are safe."
He then spoke to whoever may be with her "If you're a special friend that thinks you're helping Jennifer, don't. Get on the phone let us know where she's at."
"You may be somebody that has taken Jennifer. I ask you now as a father, just to reach down into your heart with some compassion, let her go, let her come home. I'm not going to judge you, I just want my daughter back."
Jennifer's mother Jean made her first statement since Jennifer vanished. She spoke through tears "Jen if you're out there and you can hear me, I love you, your brothers love you. We just want you back home. Please, please come home." She continued to say "that's all I have to say, I want my daughter back."
History of the case
The 18-year-old was walking home from work early last Thursday when she was last seen by friends in the Jockvale Rd. and Tartan Dr. area of Barrhaven.
Her mother Jeanne contacted authorities one week ago today when her daughter failed to return home and didn't report to school or work.
As of Thursday, Ottawa Police said they have received about 300 tips about the case.
One of them is an anonymous call to police about three young men who were riding in a car in the Barrhaven area. The woman reportedly claims the three made off with Teague.
Two people in the area also reported hearing screams on or around the night that Jennifer disappeared.
A co-worker of Jennifer's also told of a "creepy man" that had been seen in the area.
Police Chief Bevan addressed the Media on Wednesday, September 14th.
"Based on the results on the ground search to date I am prepared to rule out an accident." Bevan said, "Certainly if she wandered into the areas yet to be searched, then it was not by accident."
Bevan said that if it was not an accident that he remains hopeful that she has "gone off with a friend somewhere, and we remain hopeful that we will hear from her soon."
Ottawa Police Major Crime Investigators said on Saturday that they do suspect foul play may be involved in the disappearance.
There has been no sign of activity in Jennifer's bank accounts or on her cell-phone.
Residents urged to help by keeping eyes open
Police are asking people in Barrhaven and other areas of the city to keep an eye out for the 18-year-old or any clues in her disappearance. Residents are being told to scan their yards and report anything suspicious.
Jennifer's description
White female 5 feet 4 inches tall 106 pounds Slim, Athletic build Dyed Brown hair
Contact police Anyone with information is asked to contact Police at 236-1222 ext: 5477. An email address has been set up: infojennifer@ottawapolice.ca
________________________________
|
|
|
Post by Sher on Sept 16, 2005 0:06:17 GMT -5
Prayers for Jennifer Teague Ground Search Called Off Friday, September 16, 2005 12:08 AM
It's been more than eight days since anyone has seen 18-year-old Jennifer Teague.
Teague's quiet community is still struggling to deal with her disappearance. Just after the ground search was called off Thursday, hundreds of people gathered for an evening service not far from where Jennifer was last seen.
Friends and neighbours came together in the evening to show their support for the Teague family.
Hundreds turned out for prayer and held candles, refusing to give up hope that Jennifer will return home safe.
At the request of Jennifer's father Ed, the service focused on faith and hope.
Police are now preparing to enter the next phase of the investigation into the disappearance: following up on more than 300 tips.
The command post in Barrhaven has been dismantled, helicopters, ATV units and dozens of search crews have been pulled out of the Jockvale Rd. and Tartan Dr. area. That's where friends last saw Jennifer as she walked home from work early Thursday September 8th.
Police Chief Vince Bevan says, "We can't discount anything. And I think it's very important to keep those possibilities open to the public as well, so that no one decides not to call with a tip that may be very useful because they think we're focusing on something else."
Bevan says the investigation will not be closed to the three main scenarios they are investigating: She may have gone off by herself, she may have gone with someone else, or she may have been taken.
There has been no sign of activity in Jennifer's bank accounts or on her cell-phone.
Jennifer's mother Jean made her first statement since Jennifer vanished. She spoke through tears on Wednesday afternoon, "Jen if you're out there and you can hear me, I love you, your brothers love you. We just want you back home. Please, please come home." She continued to say, "that's all I have to say, I want my daughter back."
Jennifer's description
White female 5 feet 4 inches tall 106 pounds Slim, Athletic build Dyed Brown hair
Contact police Anyone with information is asked to contact Police at 236-1222 ext: 5477. An email address has been set up: infojennifer@ottawapolice.ca
|
|