Muskegon Woman Missing!

[Dave]

If any of you happen to see this woman, please contact authorities! I don't usually pass along 'missing person' stuff as most of the stuff I see is from so far away that it would be unlikely that the person missing would be anywhere near us. In this case though, not only is it closer to home but I actually stop at the station this young lady works at usually a couple times a week and have of course talked to her. She is a friendly young lady and as the picture here shows, likes to smile. My last two visits were a little memorable in that most the time I stop there is to buy a couple newspapers to read while I have dinner.. the previous visit when I stopped they were out the papers I like to read. The more recent visit they had the papers so I went up and paid, she noted that yes, they had the papers this time around. I thought it was cool that she actually remembered the prior visit.. not that it was that big of a deal at all but just that it just seemed liked kind of a random thing that she would of bothered to remember.

Anyway, lets get this young lady home!

Task Force Investigating Store Clerk’s ‘Abduction’

MUSKEGON COUNTY, Mich. – The following news release was sent to local media Monday morning by the Muskegon Police Department.

A task force consisting of investigators from the Norton Shores Police Department, Michigan State Police, Muskegon County Sheriff’s Department, Muskegon Police Department and the Muskegon County Prosecutors Office have been investigating numerous tips that have been received on the missing persons report (Jessica Heeringa), which has since been reclassified as an abduction case. . At this time, four persons of interest have been interviewed and cleared of any connection in the abduction of Jessica.
This event occurred in late evening hours of April 26, 2013 at the Exxon Mobil gas station located at 1196 E. Sternberg Rd.

At approximately 11:15 pm NSPD officers were dispatched to the gas station on a suspicious activity report. Customers called 911 after entering the store to find no employees present. The employee scheduled to be working, Jessica Heeringa, was not able to be located.

Contact has been made with friends and family of 25 year old Jessica Heeringa but as of April 27, 2013 at 2:00 pm Jessica has not been located.

Jessica is described as a white female, 25 years old, 5’1 tall, approximately 110 lbs., blond shoulder length hair, and blue eyes. Jessica is also known to wear wired rim glasses. She may be wearing a blue collared shirt saying “Sternberg Exxon”.

Anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity near the Exxon Mobil gas station is asked to contact Silent Observer at 231-72-CRIME ( 231-722-7463 ) or call 911.

UPDATE:

Based on evidence processed from the scene and various tips that have been received, this case is now being reclassified as an abduction.

It appears that Jessica Heeringa was preparing to close the store when this incident occurred. Her purse and other belongings were found undisturbed. In addition, the store’s cash drawer was found out and no money was missing.

Investigators are currently searching for a silver minivan, possibly a Chrysler Town and Country, that was seen in the area of the Exxon station prior to Jessica’s disappearance.

The driver is described as a white male, approximately 30-40 years old, approximately 6’ tall, medium to heavy build, broad shoulders, light brown or sandy blond wavy hair parted in the middle and slightly longer on top, wearing a bright red or orange sweatshirt.

Instructions:

Anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity near the Exxon Mobil gas station or has any information relating to this case is asked to contact Silent Observer at 231-72-CRIME ( 231-722-7463 ) or call 911.

Read more: http://fox17online.com/news/stories/missing-woman-jessica-heeringa/...

[XLFD]

Thanks for posting.  Let's hope she turns up safe and sound.

[Dave]

I'm a bit surprised at how much coverage this story is getting... its been picked up of course locally but also nationally... there was just a segment done on Fox's On The Record as well as having been reported on Good Morning America and during regular Fox newscast and I'm sure other places as well.

I hope they do find her soon... a nice and outgoing person like her is hard to find these days.

[XLFD]

I've noticed there is some backlash against the owner of the Sternberg Exxon Mobil Station because he did not put in a security system, that may have helped in getting some quicker resolution as to what may have happened.  I don't necessarily think it is well deserved, but his reactions to questions on why he never did put in a surveillance system are a bit over the top.

[Willy]

A Cardinal rule for convenience stores and gas stations is you never have female employees working alone at night, especially at closing time. Not only are they more vulnerable to robbery but they are also prime targets for sexual assault.

[XLFD]

Smart rule, and if you rationalize that you can't afford $5000 to install a security system, then make your own security system by spending 5% of that on rudimentary cams that can hook up with your existing computer(s) and realistic dummy cams.

[AQUAMAN]

This is a very sad and shocking revelation by Mr. Ciereman, and just proves his ignorance and greed, not to mention hostile attitude. Perhaps his daughter or son should take the place of Jessica in the future, and see how he protects them. Lastly, it doesn't cost any $5K to have a decent surveillance system these days. You can get cameras for a paltry $50-100, depending on the quality, and have them filter back to a pc for a fraction of what he claims. Hope she if found soon and is ok. I really feel for the parents.

[Lisa O'Brien]

You can't just look at the cost of the cameras - I bought a 8 camera security system (personal use) for around $600. But I have the luxury of being able to install it myself,. He has a business so anything he does has to be up to code - if he doesn't know what the code is or is not handy - he may have to look to outside sources for the equipment and installation. At which point it no longer is cheap. Security companies have a mark up on the equipment and the labor is going to be expensive. At work I had a 2 camera system installed and it was $20,000 

[Dave]

Good points Lisa. Often there is more too an issue then what many of us may think.

[Dave]

I'm on the fence on this issue. Having shopped there on a regular basis for the last probably 4 or 5 years, I can tell you that the station is in a fairly 'safe' area compared to some areas of Muskegon, like the Heights.. the Heights has its share of crime. They are not a 24 hour station as so many are these days and the fact that as far as I know, they haven't been victim of any major crimes at any point up til now. I can understand the owners hesitation in installing camera's if it would just seem to be an expense that he didn't need to spend money on. I mean if he's willing to eat that $3000 in drive offs then I guess that's his right to do.

While the $5000 price tag does seem extreme, to be fair, we don't know how complex of a system he was looking at or when he was looking, if it was a few years ago and it was a fairly modern system, maybe at that time it was that expensive... so far now I'll give him the benefit of the doubt on that. I can verify though that there are now cameras in the store.. that is one thing I checked on when I stopped there on Monday.

Of all the times I've been in the store over the years, I can tell you that while business is steady during the day, of the times I've stopped later in the day into the evening the store has been fairly slow. Should he of had cameras in the store already? Maybe.

Let's just hope Jessica is found safe and sound.

[AQUAMAN]

The fact remains Dave, that if she isn't found soon, or is found deceased later on, this episode will be on the owners head the rest of his life. I don't see how a reasonable and caring individual could live with that, but, we're looking at an owner that has little if any caring in his heart from his recorded statements on the affair. Disgusting.

[Dave]

I guess I look at it like this... being a private business, there are things that are left up to the owner to decide on if he/she wants to do or not. If he felt that his business was safe enough to not have the cameras.... which up to this point it had been.... then he has the right to not have cameras. When it gets down to it, if a person working there doesn't feel comfortable about there not being cameras then they could either not except the job or quit after being hired. While I can't say that I know Jessica well, my interaction with her would just be the short time that I would be making my purchase, she seemed quite happy to be working there. Most of the time, there is only 1 person working at the station, its not very often that I'm in there and there is any one besides the person at the counter there unless I'm in around the time of the shift change.

Is the owner cold hearted? Having not heard any of the comments he has made, I can't really say... I've only read what he has supposedly said. If Jessica doesn't come back or doesn't come back uninjured, I would imagine that the owner will have that weigh on his soul.

The issue of camera/no cameras is a moot point now though as there are cameras installed now. I read that there is also a bill that be working on that would require all businesses of the type were talking about that will be required to install cameras/security equipment.

[Lisa O'Brien]

I agree it should be up to the business owners if they put in cameras or not - they are not forcing anyone to work there. Also the blame does not belong to the owner it belongs to whomever took her. Even if there had been cameras - there are no guarantees that this would not have happened.