Disappearance continues to haunt woman's family
Amanda Jones still missing after three years
By TERESA RESSEL
Daily Journal Staff Writer
Daily Journal Staff Writer
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Three years have passed since a Pevely woman, nine months pregnant, went missing.
Amanda Jones disappeared on Aug. 14, 2005, just days before she was going to give birth to a baby boy she had named Hayden Lucas.
Police still don’t have much to go on.
Jefferson County Lt. Dave Marshak said they do still get leads and they follow up on every lead whether they believe it credible. He said they get calls from people who thought they “saw her here or there.” They check businesses’ video surveillance tapes to make sure it wasn’t her.
One recent bogus lead was an anonymous letter that turned out to have been written by a woman with “mental health issues.”
Marshak said no one has given them a solid lead.
A week ago, the department held a rally to bring attention to her disappearance and other missing people like Heather Kullorn, a 12-year-old girl who disappeared from Richmond Heights in 1999.
The rally stimulated interest and tips but unfortunately, not many legitimate tips. As late as Thursday, they received a call about a supposed sighting of Jones.
“We’re kind of at a standstill,” Marshak said. “There’s not a lot we can do right now.”
Even the MySpace page, http://www.myspace.com/findingamandajones, is updated less often with mainly friends and other missing persons’ family members leaving messages.
Police had focused on Bryan Westfall, who the Jones’ family says is the baby’s father. Police searched his property twice early on but never named him as a suspect. They say he has worked with police through his attorney. His girlfriend reportedly talked to police through her attorney, as well.
The day she went missing, she left her 4-year-old daughter with her family to meet Westfall at the Hillsboro Civic Center. He is the last known person to see her.
Her mother, Bertha Propst of Festus, said her daughter received a phone call from Westfall that morning requesting a meeting at 1 p.m. at the Hillsboro Civic Center, where the two had met and he volunteered.
Bertha has said her daughter just wanted to know if Westfall wanted to have anything to do with raising her son. Her parents, Bertha and Hubert — who were born and raised in Park Hills — and friends called Westfall when she didn’t return and got different stories.
The Propst family called the sheriff's department at about 9 that night to report her missing. Later on, her car was found unlocked in the parking lot, with her purse inside.
Police have found no physical evidence in the case. Anyone with information is asked to call the department at 636-797-5000.
Police describe Jones as 5-foot-8 and about 220 pounds. She has blue eyes, brown hair with blond highlights, and a dolphin tattoo on her left upper torso. She was last seen wearing a pink sleeveless shirt, a pink- and white-flowered skirt and pink sandals.
Teresa Ressel is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 179 or at tressel@dailyjournalonline.com.
Amanda Jones disappeared on Aug. 14, 2005, just days before she was going to give birth to a baby boy she had named Hayden Lucas.
Police still don’t have much to go on.
Jefferson County Lt. Dave Marshak said they do still get leads and they follow up on every lead whether they believe it credible. He said they get calls from people who thought they “saw her here or there.” They check businesses’ video surveillance tapes to make sure it wasn’t her.
One recent bogus lead was an anonymous letter that turned out to have been written by a woman with “mental health issues.”
Marshak said no one has given them a solid lead.
A week ago, the department held a rally to bring attention to her disappearance and other missing people like Heather Kullorn, a 12-year-old girl who disappeared from Richmond Heights in 1999.
The rally stimulated interest and tips but unfortunately, not many legitimate tips. As late as Thursday, they received a call about a supposed sighting of Jones.
“We’re kind of at a standstill,” Marshak said. “There’s not a lot we can do right now.”
Even the MySpace page, http://www.myspace.com/findingamandajones, is updated less often with mainly friends and other missing persons’ family members leaving messages.
Police had focused on Bryan Westfall, who the Jones’ family says is the baby’s father. Police searched his property twice early on but never named him as a suspect. They say he has worked with police through his attorney. His girlfriend reportedly talked to police through her attorney, as well.
The day she went missing, she left her 4-year-old daughter with her family to meet Westfall at the Hillsboro Civic Center. He is the last known person to see her.
Her mother, Bertha Propst of Festus, said her daughter received a phone call from Westfall that morning requesting a meeting at 1 p.m. at the Hillsboro Civic Center, where the two had met and he volunteered.
Bertha has said her daughter just wanted to know if Westfall wanted to have anything to do with raising her son. Her parents, Bertha and Hubert — who were born and raised in Park Hills — and friends called Westfall when she didn’t return and got different stories.
The Propst family called the sheriff's department at about 9 that night to report her missing. Later on, her car was found unlocked in the parking lot, with her purse inside.
Police have found no physical evidence in the case. Anyone with information is asked to call the department at 636-797-5000.
Police describe Jones as 5-foot-8 and about 220 pounds. She has blue eyes, brown hair with blond highlights, and a dolphin tattoo on her left upper torso. She was last seen wearing a pink sleeveless shirt, a pink- and white-flowered skirt and pink sandals.
Teresa Ressel is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 179 or at tressel@dailyjournalonline.com.
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