Thelma Thomas (second from right) of Merrillville, mother of the missing Rochelle Thomas Stubblefield, listens to investigators Friday (December 12) during a news conference seeking the public’s help in the case. -Damian Rico/Photo (The Times)
Rochelle Thomas Stubblefield of Merrillville, In. was supposed to celebrate her 21st birthday on December 25 with friends and family. She was also supposed deliver her first child on Dec. 15—a boy, who she had already decided to name “Amir”.
However, the 21-year-old went missing on Nov. 10 after attending classes early in the day and going a girls basketball game later on. Her family reported her missing on Nov. 12. Almost three months later, investigators are still unable to locate Stubblefield.
The Calumet College student was attending school on a track scholarship. Calumet College of St. Joseph is a private college that is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. Stubblefield was a criminal justice student who had hopes of becoming a police officer upon graduation.
Stubblefield was proud of her school, and she was last seen wearing a maroon Calumet College sweatshirt, black jeans, and glasses.
Stubblefield’s friends and family are still desperate for answers.
“We need to find her. Help us,” Stubblefield’s cousin, Lajuaina Riley, told the Chicago Tribune in late December, “If anyone has any information, don’t be afraid.”
Police Detective George Dickerson from the Gary Police Department told reporters that investigators do have a person of interest in the case, but declined to comment further. Dickerson did say that this person is someone that Rochelle Stubblefield knows, and that the individual is not cooperating with police.
Investigators have also recovered some personal items belonging to Stubblefield, but would not comment on the location that these items were found.
“We don’t want to compromise the integrity of the investigation,” Detective Dickerson told the Chicago Tribune.
Police did say that they suspect foul play, but were unable to comment any further.
Police are asking anyone with information about the case to call (219) 755-3855 or the anonymous tip line at 866-CRIME-GP.
According to the U.S. Department of State, more than 150,000 U.S. citizens cross into the Mexican border every day. While millions of Americans SAFELY visit Mexico each year for study, tourism and business—government authorities still warn people to practice caution when visiting our neighbors to the south.
U.S. citizens have been the victims of violent crimes, such as kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery by organized criminal groups in various Mexican states—U.S. Department of State
Several years ago, Mexico’s attorney general compiled a list showing that more than 25,000 adults and children have gone missing in Mexico in the past six years, according to unpublished government documents.
In a report by Agence France Press, at least 648 American citizens were murdered in Mexico between October 2002 and December 2012. This represents more than 40 percent of the almost 1,600 American victims worldwide over the same period. Bottom line…more Americans have been murdered in Mexico than any other country in the past decade.
Recent arrest made in American’s murder
Pictured: Harry Devert (Via Help Find Harry/Facebook)
Last year, human remains found in two plastic bags near a beach in southwestern Mexico were later identified as her son, Harry Devert, 32, a New Yorker who left his job as a trader in finance for a transcontinental motorcycle journey from the United States to Latin America.
It wasn’t until several weeks ago that Mexican authorities finally made an arrest in the case. Adrian Reyes Cadena, a Mexican drug gang leader, is now charged with Devert’s murder. According to authorities, Cadena thought Devert was a U.S. agent and murdered him.
Pictured: Adrian Reyes
Divert’s gang, known by the name ‘Guerrero Guard’ and ‘El Tigre,’ is alleged to have also overseen 2013 kidnapping and disappearance of two federal police officers and kidnapping of Italian businessman in 2014.
Just last week, the father-in-law and brother-in-law of former Miss USA Ali Landry were found dead in Mexico after reportedly being kidnapped and held for ransom.
The bodies of Juan Manuel Gómez Fernández and his son, Juan Manuel Gómez Monteverde, were said to have been discovered inside a vehicle in a remote region of Veracruz.
Two family members of celebrity Ali Landry were killed last week in Mexico after being kidnapped and held for ransom. (Via alejandromonteverde77/Instagram)
The men were reportedly kidnapped while leaving their Gulf Coast home in Tampico, Tamaulipas, on Sept. 4. A ransom had been paid for their release, according to the report which cited Televisa, but the kidnappers didn’t keep their word.
At this time, authorities have not announced any arrests in the case.
Thousands of women disappearing in Mexico
Women have become the target of many crimes throughout Mexico. The state of Mexico, home to the country’s capital, is now the most dangerous place for women in Mexico. In 2014 alone, 400 women disappeared from the area.
Human rights groups and families of victims have been demanding a gender alert since 2010 amid growing evidence that the area has become the most dangerous place to be female in the country.
A shocking 1,258 girls and women were reported disappeared and at least 448 murdered in the area in 2011 and 2012, according to figures obtained by the National Citizens Observatory on Femicides.
The organization also reports that at least least six women are targeted and killed every day in Mexico. Of those, less than a quarter are investigated. Of those investigations, fewer than 2 per cent lead to a sentence.
Other Americans Missing in Mexico
John Edward Parks: Owned aquarium/pet store in Matamoros, MX, and disappeared in 2013 during the battles between the Mexican military and the Gulf Cartels and Zetas in that city, beginning on Nov.5, 2010. US Consulate has only verified that he is not in any hospital in that city or surrounding cities, and nothing more. They say they are not able to do any searching themselves but must rely on the Mexican authorities.
Roberto Muñoz and his family: In 2013, Roberto, his wife Cecilia and their grandson Armando Salinas had gone to Mexico to visit relatives over the holidays. But just as they were beginning their trip home, family members lost contact with them. Border records show that they never crossed back into the United States.
Mario Perera Riveroll: It was a routine day for labor attorney Mario Perera Riveroll, defending American companies in a civil court across the Rio Grande in a Mexican bordertown. During a courtroom break in June 27, 2006, Perera told his co-workers that he would return after copying documents in a case. Perera, a naturalized U.S. citizen, climbed into his car, then drove off — and disappeared. Neither the lawyer nor his car have been seen since.
Safety Tip for Visiting Mexico
Leave your valuables at home. Bringing them with you will make you more of a target.
Tell a relative (or a person you trust) your travel itinerary and details. Make sure they have enough details to be able to get a hold of you.
Ask at the receptionist at the hotel if there are certain parts of the city you should avoid for security reasons.
Blend in as much as possible. Take a short shopping trip and look at how people your age are dressed and try to mimic the “dress code”. If you look like a tourist it’s pretty much like yelling “rob me”.
Don’t hail for taxis, especially in Mexico City. Ask the hotel to call one for you.
Lauth Investigations and Thomas Lauth are experts in helping families locate missing loved ones.
While each missing persons case is different and results will vary, Lauth has been helping families for more than 20 years and boasts nearly an 85% success rate.
If you or someone you know need assistance, call them today at 1.800.889.FIND or 317.951.1100.
Kathleen Haley, a 37 year old woman missing from Newport, Virginia, has not been seen since August 22nd. Kathleen’s sister, Diane Roman, was the last person to hear from Ms. Haley, speaking with her on the phone on September 1st. This is very unusual according to their mother, who said that she typically talked to Kathleen at least twice a week. In fact, they had plans for Kathleen to help her mother get her car inspected, but Kathleen never showed up. After Kathleen’s mother couldn’t locate her at her apartment on the 7th of September, combined with the fact that she had not been heard from in a week now; Kathleen’s mother reported her missing.
It is reported that there were several items missing from Haley’s condo. However, in order to preserve the integrity of the investigation, the police have not yet released exactly what those items are. It is known, however, that her dog, a boxer, is missing from the condo. Haley’s brother in law, Manuel Roman, made a comment regarding the missing items, saying “It’s just stuff you don’t take with you if you’re going on a trip. Stuff you don’t necessarily take anywhere.”
Kathleen’s family portrayed her as leading a private life, not sharing a multitude of details with anyone, and being annoyed by nosy people. Her family could not think of anything that seemed to be bothering her leading up to her disappearance. Kathleen’s car is parked in her driveway, which the family says is very unusual. Manuel Roman stated, “It’s just totally unlike her to not call, to not be on Facebook, to not move her car.”
The family is concerned for her safety, and asking for the public’s help. They are seeking any information, no matter how big or small, regarding her disappearance and/or whereabouts. Roman posed the question, “If you had someone who was missing, wouldn’t you want somebody to come out and say ‘I know this little bit?’” If you have any information regarding this case, please immediately call the Newport News Police at (757) 247-2500. You can remain anonymous by calling The Crime Line, at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.
Spencer Shank, writer for MPAN
An 18 year old woman went missing from Kosciusko County in Warsaw, Indiana a week ago today, by the name of Aurora Shoemaker. There is not an abundance of information on this case, due to her abrupt disappearance.
The young adult is described as being 5-foot-6, a slender build, short blonde hair, green eyes, and piercings in her lip. She was seen last Thursday at approximately 4:00 P.M. leaving her mobile home at the Acres Mobile Home Park going out for a walk, however, she never returned. The sudden disappearance, coupled with her cell phone going unanswered caused her family to contact the Sheriff’s Department on Sunday to report her missing.
Police say that as far as they know, she does not have a history of running away. They are also requesting the public’s help in finding Aurora, so if you know anything about this young woman’s disappearance, please contact the Sheriff’s Department at either their anonymous line 574-372-2494 or their regular line at 574-267-5667
Law enforcement continues searching for Alpha Sabbithi, 27, of Oak Lawn, Illinois after discovering his locked car at 4:00 A.M. Sunday morning. The vehicle was located near Maple Lake forest preserve, and his cell phone, car keys, and wallet was sitting on the seat inside.
Alpha Sabbithi is described as being 5’11, 160 pounds, and having brown eyes with matching colored hair. When he was last seen, according to the alert, he was wearing a black T-shirt and brown cargo pants. His shirt reportedly had “Hollywood” written on the front in white letters.
The division chief of the Oak Lawn police stated that the area would be further searched by one of his officers as well as officers from the Cook County Sheriff’s Department- the officers holding jurisdiction. The search was also aided by police searching the lake in boats while a police helicopter surveyed the surrounding area by air.
According to the alert posted by Oak Lawn police, a bloodhound search dog was used from the Joliet police department; the dog was said to have caught Sabbithi’s scent at a boat launch at Saganashkee Slough, but Alpha was not there.
It is known that Sabbithi suffers from depression; however, his brother informed police of Alpha’s two week stay at a Michigan monastery recently, which he had learned of when seeing his brother for the last time on Saturday. His brother went on to say that Alpha seemed more relaxed and that “It was a personal thing for him”.
If you have any possible information in regard to Sabbithi’s whereabouts, please contact the Oak Lawn Police at (708)-422-8292.
Elizabeth Gill was only 2 ½ years old when she vanished from her family’s home, in the area of the 300 block of south Larimer Street in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The little blonde haired toddler had been playing in the front yard with a sand pail on June 13, 1965, at approximately 4PM. Decades later, the family has never given up the faith that they will find her alive.The family has long believed a group of drifters that had been staying at a hotel in the area of Elizabeth’s residence may have kidnapped her. A witness reported seeing the individuals on two different occasions try to lure Elizabeth into their vehicle. The drifters had been selling purses close to the house, and early on in the investigation considered persons of interest, but could never be located.
Detective Jim Smith reopened the cold case in 2003. Smith told the Associated Press, “What do they think about every night, every holiday, every birthday? Their family has never been complete. They are always going to wonder what happened to Elizabeth. If I could give them an answer, it would be one of the greatest things that’s has ever happened to me as a law enforcement officer.”
Recently, the family hired a private detective who visited with Smith and Elizabeth’s sister, Martha Gill-Hamilton. Mike Neverett, a Florida private investigator, and Smith believe it may only be a matter of time before they solve this mystery. Neverett traveled to Missouri this April to meet with Elizabeth’s family and the detective to research the case.
Taking an interesting approach, Neverett, who has been involved in the case for over seven years, recently visited the old Gill home on Lorimar Street and began taking pictures of what he describes as “pictures through the eyes of a child.” Clicking pictures of surrounding homes and the neighborhood from the height Elizabeth would have been at time of her disappearance. He hopes this may jar the memory of a woman who would now be 49 years old, and the youngest of ten children. Elizabeth’s father passed away in 1970 never knowing what happened to the youngest apple of his eye, but Elizabeth’s mother and remaining siblings have never given up hope of being reunited.
Having worked alongside law enforcement for nearly two decades with many cold cases, I agree this case had all the potential elements of a solvable case. With increased national news exposure, law enforcement and private investigators working cooperatively, and especially utilizing the power of social media, there is a good potential of bringing Elizabeth home to her family. The pictures could be the key to jogging the memory of a woman who has never truly known who she is.
Even I have memories of standing in my crib calling out to my mother because I had an earache. I could not have been more than a year and a half old. The mind stores everything and things decades old like a smell, a sound, and yes, even a picture can take us back. We also know in every case of a suspicious disappearance of a child or adult, someone out there knows something.
We can all take a part in reuniting Elizabeth with her family by sharing her information. Let us all unite as a real social community and bring Elizabeth home!
For additional information, please visit www.missingkids.com. If you have information or believe you may be Elizabeth Gill, please call Det. Jim Smith at the Cape Girardeau (MO) Police Department at 573-335-6621, ext. 1120.
Author – Kym L. Pasqualini
Founder, National Center for Missing Adults
& Social Network Advocate
Missing Persons Advocacy Network
