Assumed Deceased: Donna Haghighat Jou -- CA -- 06/23/2007

[Denise]

 read more here http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22263431/

Father anguishes over missing South County teen

For the past 160-odd days, Reza Jou has only experienced anguish and desperation.

Each minute his agony grows, knowing little of where his youngest daughter, Donna Jou, is.

"I haven't been able to eat or sleep," he said on the phone from his home in Nassau Bay, Texas. "I can't even swallow water because it hurts. I can't enjoy anything – thinking of my child and where she could be."

Five months have passed since Jou learned that Donna disappeared from her mother's apartment in Rancho Santa Margarita. She left on a motorcycle with John Steven Burgess, a convicted child molester, to a party at his rented West Los Angeles home on June 23.

[Kelly]

read more here  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-search29dec29,1,2056898.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Second search planned for missing teen
Christian group plans to scour the Santa Monica Mountains for clues in the June disappearance of 19-year-old college student.

By Andrew Blankstein, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 29, 2007

Six months after the disappearance of a 19-year-old female college student, scores of volunteers are planning to again search the Santa Monica Mountains in Malibu this weekend for any clues in her case.

A Northern California Christian search group will lead the effort, the second privately organized search for Donna Jou in the Malibu area in the past three months.

Mike Melson, who participated in the earlier search and will lead the new effort, said dozens of people have signed up on the Jou family's website to take part.

"The response has been overwhelming; people have registered from San Clemente to Sacramento," Melson said. "One lady put it best: We're Christians, and the Bible says if this was my daughter, this is what we would want others to do."

[Denise]

read more here http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20071229-1447-ca-missingstudent.html

Friends, family search Malibu for missing 19-year-old        

ASSOCIATED PRESS

2:47 p.m. December 29, 2007

MALIBU - Friends and family scoured the Santa Monica Mountains on Saturday for clues to the disappearance of a 19-year-old college student who vanished while heading to a party hosted by a convicted sex offender.

About 100 people searched hillsides and cliff roads for traces of Donna Jou.

I'm hoping to find something, some answer, something that's related to Donna, said her mother, Nili Jou, who believes her daughter is still alive. It's been six months and I have no idea what happened to my precious baby.

Gloria Allred, an attorney representing the parents, Nili and Reza Jou, said they were looking for clothing, jewelry or other items that Jou was last seen wearing, including a blue backpack.

[Denise]

read more here  http://www.knx1070.com/Volunteers-Comb-Malibu-Area-for-Missing-College-St/1404642

Man Named 'Person of Interest' in Case Isn't Talking

Malibu (AP)  -- Nearly 100 volunteers are combing the Santa Monica Mountains in Malibu this weekend, looking for any signs of a 19-year-old Orange County woman who disappeared more than six months ago.

Friends and family of Donna Jou  say they're hopeful they can find evidence of the San Diego State University student. Jou's mother Nili is taking part in the search,

The Rancho Santa Margarita resident was last seen on June 23rd, as she went on a date she'd arranged online with John Steven Burgess -- who turned out to be a convicted sex offender.

[Denise]

read more here http://www.kget.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=30d484d1-1426-4193-8e7e-ba24f6795417

A Mother Searches for Answers

Last Update: 12:32 pm  2/29/08

Nili Jou Nili Jou believes inmate John Steven Burgess was the last to see her missing daughter alive.

"My daughter has been missing for 8 months now."

In wasco, Nili Jou went from store to store and person to person, passing out fliers about her missing 19-year old daughter Donna.

She says convicted sex offender John Steven Burgess knows where her daughter is.

[Denise]

read more here http://www.turnto23.com/news/15443278/detail.html?rss=bak&psp=news

Family Of Missing Daughter Says Suspect In Wasco Prison
Convicted Sex Offender May Have Used Fake Online Photo To Lure Girl

POSTED: 4:26 pm PST February 28, 2008
UPDATED: 4:43 pm PST February 28, 2008

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- The family of a 19-year-old Orange County college student is in Kern County Thursday with a list of questions. The man who may have some answers is behind bars at Wasco State Prison for unrelated sex offender charges.

The last time Nili Jou saw her daughter, Donna Jou, was eight months ago.

The family's life has been on hold since then, and family members are doing everything they can to find out if their daughter is still alive.  

Donna Jou's family said she was a college student with a zest for life. They also said she is a trusting, giving person who wanted to help others.

[Denise]

read more here http://media.www.thedailyaztec.com/media/storage/paper741/news/2008/01/31/City/Cyberstalkers.Pose.A.Dangerous.Threat-3178798.shtml

Cyberstalkers pose a dangerous threat

Wendy Fry, Staff Writer
Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: City

Online predators or cyberstalkers often use information on social networking Web sites to track their victims.
  
Imagine you sit down at your computer and check your Facebook messages. "Fred," your new friend, wants to know if you can chat.

You log onto AIM,and talk about everything from politics to which foods you like. You think you've made a new friend but you know nothing about "Fred."

[Kelly]

Project Jason Profile:

Missing Person: Donna Jou
 
Date of Birth: 10/14/1987
Missing Since: June 23, 2007
Missing City: Los Angeles
Missing State: California
Age at time of disapperance: 19 
Gender: Female
Race: White
Height: 5 ft 3 in
Weight: 110 lbs
Hair Color: Light brown
Eye Color: Brown
Complexion: Olive
Characteristics: Double pierced ears
 
Clothing: Blue jeans, gray tank top,  black hooded jacket with zipper, canvas multi-colored shoes, and a blue JanSport backpack
 
Jewelry: silver color chain with Nickless, silver color horse shoe shape with silver color thin chain.
 
Circumstances: Donna was last seen with John Steven Burgess at his Los Angles
rental home (3617 Faris Drive, Los Angeles CA.) on June 23, 2007. The suspect, John Steve Burgess is in Wasco State Prison because he has failed to register as a sex offender. He is using his 5th Amendment right and not speaking about Donna.
 
Agency Name: Los Angles Police Department and Oragne County Sherriff
Agency Phone: 213-485-2531
Case Number: 0712154

Family Website: www.donnajou.com

Print a poster: http://www.projectjason.org/aan/AAN_DonnaJou.pdf 

[Kelly]

From the Family:

Donna Jou's family and friends will be gathering in front of Donna's abductor's rental house in Los Angeles, California to observe the First Anniversary of her disappearance. Your support of this cause will be greatly appreciated.
 
Many thanks in advanced,
Reza Jou (Donna Jou's dad)

WWW.DONNAJOU.COM
 
Date:           Monday, June 23, 2008
Time:           6:00 PM
Location:     3617 Faris Drive, Los Angeles, California, 90034.
                     

[LoriDavis]

read more here http://www.nbcsandiego.com/mostpopular/16686257/detail.html

Family Of Missing Coed To Mark Painful Anniversary
POSTED: 10:33 am PDT June 23, 2008
UPDATED: 11:16 am PDT June 23, 2008

SAN DIEGO -- One year after a San Diego State University student went missing, her family plans to mark the day with a vigil outside of the home of her suspected abductor.

Donna Jou, 19, a pre-med student at SDSU, has not been seen since June 23, 2007. Her family said she was last seen getting on the back of a motorcycle with John Steven Burgess, 35, a convicted sex offender, as she left her home in Orange County. She was later seen at a party at his West L.A.-area home, authorities said.
  
Jou sent brief text messages from her phone indicating that she was locked in a bathroom and in danger at Burgess' house, according to her family. She was never heard from again.

[Denise]

Father says daughters disappearance 'a nightmare'

By Chris Paschenko
The Daily News
Published June 23, 2008

NASSAU BAY  A Nassau Bay man haunted by the vanishing of a 2006 Clear Lake High School graduate refuses to let the case turn cold on the anniversary of his daughters disappearance.

Donna Jou was 19 and a student at San Diego State University when she disappeared June 23, 2007. She was last seen at the Los Angeles rental home of John Steven Burgess.

Reza Jou said his family continues to hope and pray that his daughter will be found safe and sound.

This is a nightmare, Reza Jou said during a Friday telephone call from California. I have to be reunited with her and find closure. Its a terrible grief and pain because I dont know what else to do.

Source:
read more here http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?...cd4b4e326d79e86

[Denise]

read more here http://www.ocregister.com/articles/donna-family-keep-2075612-every-need

Monday, June 23, 2008

Reza Jou's statement on the anniversary of his daughter's disappearance
Father tells friends and family how much he misses Donna Jou, 19

Respectable family members, including extended family/honorable Gloria Allred who has joined us with a sense of urgency and passion in pursuit of justice for Donna, friends, and supporters including Ms. Noelle Stillman from National Center for Missing Children.

As you know, it has been one year today since my precious daughter, Donna, disappeared from our lives. Donna is still an integral part of me; her image still is very much in my mind.

I am sad; My world has been turned upside down by this terrible tragedy. Her loss has changed me. The light that used to guide me to live life with a sense of joy and passion barely flickers today. At times, I feel my life lacks purpose and that I have little reason to go on without her.

[Linda]

DONNA JOU

DOB:   Oct 14, 1987
Missing:  Jun 23, 2007
Height:  5'3" (160 cm)
Eyes:  Brown
Race:  White
Age at time of disappearance:19
Sex:  Female
Weight:  110 lbs (50 kg)
Hair:  Brown
Missing From:
RANCHOSANTAMARGARITA
CA
United States

On June 23, 2007, Donna left her mother's residence in Rancho Santa Margarita to attend a party in Los Angeles, California with an adult male. The companion is currently in custody. Donna hasn't been seen since.

Print a poster:
http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PubCaseSearchServlet?act=viewPoster&caseNum=1074636&orgPrefix=NCMA&searchLang=en_US

Print a poster: http://www.projectjason.org/aan/AAN_DonnaJou.pdf 

Orange County Sheriff's Office (California) 1-714-628-7170

[Kelly]

Donna has been placed on Project Jason's 18 Wheel Angels campaign. A special poster has been made for her and can be downloaded and printed for placement. More information about the program, and the link for the poster can be found here:

http://projectjason.org/18wheel.shtml

In addition to the campaign, Donna was also featured in a national trucking publication, Independent Contractor. This free magazine is distributed in truck stops nationwide and has a circulation of about 150,000.

Through the Gears and Independent Contractor are two of Target Media Partner's many publications. In partnership with Project Jason, they each feature two missing persons each per month. You can pick up your free copies at a local truck stop, but if it's far from you, you may want to call and ask if they carry that magazine. These are NOT with the regular for purchase magazines.

We hope this helps in the search for Donna. Please consider printing and placing a poster in businesses in your community.



Thank you.

Kelly, Project Jason

[Kelly]

This story was written exclusively for the 18 Wheel Angels campaign by Donna's father, Reza:


The mysterious disappearance of Donna Jou

My daughter, Donna Jou, 19 years old, an honor pre-med student at San Diego State University is missing since 23 June 2007. Her dream is to be a physician (Neurosurgeon).  Donna was last seen by witnesses with John Steven Burgess (a convicted sex offender) at his residence 3617 Faris Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90034 around midnight of June 23-24, 2007. Please refer to WWW.DONNAJOU.COM for more detail.

Donna posted an ad on Craig list (Internet) as a Math Tutor in hope to help other students. During this process she was contacted by John Steven Burgess and a trust began.  On that dreadful Saturday, June 23, 2007, he picked her up, but did not bring her back.

He is in California State Prison for UNRELATED to Donnas case, he is hiding behind the law (Fifth Amendment Right) and maintaining his silence. We have begged him many times, via his attorney, through media, and many letters to tell us about my childs whereabouts, he has refused.

Donna's big heart and generosity expanded by her community services of many hours dedicated to baby sitting at the Battered Women's Shelters. She has volunteered as a cashier in the Bay Area Turning Point Resale Shop in Nassau Bay, Texas in support of women shelters. She also has supported the Interfaith Ministries as a volunteer, this includes, collecting non-perishable foods from grocery stores and delivery to food pantries for less fortunate.

Donna worked full time as a volunteer in St. John Hospital's Pathology Laboratories, summer 2005. During her senior year at Clear Lake High School, she took a course named "Independent Study Mentor ship (ISM)" Under direction of her mentor, NASA senior scientist, she studied Neurophysiology, Vestibular System, Spaceflight negative effects on astronauts' balance upon their return to Earth. This was at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Johnson Space Center (JSC), Houston, Texas (please see www.donnajou.com , under PROFILE for her research work). She graduated from high school, May 2006 with 4.4 GPA, 1570 SAT score. The following summer, she was admitted to the NASA's Summer High School Apprenticeship Research Program or SHARP.

She moved from Houston to San Diego, California and started her undergraduate work in Fall 2006.

It has been over 14 long months since my precious daughter, disappeared from my life. Donna is still an integral part of me; her image still is very much in my mind. I am sad; My world has been turned upside down by this terrible tragedy. Her loss has changed me. The light that used to guide me to live life with a sense of joy and passion barely flickers today. At times, I feel my life lacks purpose and that I have little reason to go on without her. Yet I can not bring myself to say goodbye to Donna in the absence of conclusive evidence that she will not come back to me alive. Every waking moments of every day, I hope and pray for new leads to Donna's  whereabouts.

I feel strongly that I have not reached the point where I should give up hope. My heart and soul tell me to hold on and to cherish the thought that "see you soon" still describes what I believe will be the ultimate outcome of this case.

This has been a dreadful experience for me and my family, especially with mystery and suspense. It goes beyond my worst nightmare. I will persist and stop at nothing to find my daughter, reunite with her or find closure.

My love for my daughter, my terrible grief, and the rage I feel for her abductor and our system of justice that seems so often to favor the criminal's rights over the victim's, will keep me going as long as it takes to find her. If it takes my entire life, so be it. I hold on till I take my last breath.

What we need so much is to keep Donna's disappearance before the public. We can not afford to have this case go "cold" as that will truly be the death knell for my beautiful girl. We need to keep this case fresh in the minds of the public eye in any and every way we can. Sooner or later, someone, somewhere will recognize Donna and provide us the information we need.

I want to tell her that I love her immensely and that no matter what condition or shape she is in, I will love her and accept her. I want her back in my life.

Reza Jou, Father of Missing Donna Jou

A $15,000 reward is being offered for any information leading to the discovery of Donna's whereabouts.