Located Safe: Georgina Lynn DeJesus -- OH -- 04/02/2004

[Dan]

Originally posted on 09/23/06
by Kelly




NewsNet5.com - News - Police Find Nothing In Search For Gina DeJesus

Police Find Nothing In Search For Gina DeJesus
Home Is Owned By Sex Offender With Extensive Criminal Background

POSTED: 9:47 am EDT September 22, 2006
UPDATED: 7:25 am EDT September 23, 2006

CLEVELAND -- Police ended their search Friday night of a west side home, garage and dog house. They were looking for the body of Gina DeJesus who disappeared more than two years ago from a west side neighborhood.

Her body was not found, but police found 19 pieces of evidence that are "consistent with a missing 13-year-old girl," police said.

The DeJesus family Friday morning asked for their privacy to be respected, but community activist Art McCoy, speaking on the family's behalf, said that they are remaining hopeful that Gina is still alive until they receive information to the contrary.

Please read more at the link provided.

[Dan]

Originally posted on 09/25/06
by Denise



Attorney Calls Investigation In DeJesus Case A 'Fairytale'
Prosecutors Say Items Taken From Man's Home Still Under Investigation

POSTED: 12:32 pm EDT September 25, 2006
UPDATED: 5:16 pm EDT September 25, 2006

CLEVELAND -- The owner of a home that was searched last week in the Gina DeJesus case was in court Monday on unrelated charges.

Police searched the home and excavated the garage of 36-year-old Matthew Hurayt last Friday but found no evidence relating to the missing teen, who disappeared more than two years ago from a west side neighborhood.
NewsNet5.com - News - Attorney Calls Investigation In DeJesus Case A 'Fairytale'

[Dan]

Originally posted on 09/26/06
by Kelly




cleveland.com: Everything Cleveland

Man linked to girl's death freed from jail
Tuesday, September 26, 2006

James F. McCarty and Gabriel Baird
Plain Dealer Reporters

A judge ordered Matthew Hurayt released from the Cuyahoga County Jail Monday, overriding the protests of prosecutors who maintain he may have been involved in the disappearance of Gina DeJesus. Assistant County Prosecutor Jennifer Driscoll said a police dog trained to alert officers to the scent of cadavers "indicated" in three locations at Hurayt's West 50th Street home on Friday that a dead body may have been present at one time.

Two of the locations where the dog sat, the indicator used to alert police, were in Hurayt's garage, where an informant told investigators Hurayt had buried the girl's body beneath a freshly poured concrete floor. Investigators tore up the floor in the garage and under a doghouse. The dog also alerted to a location in the house, Driscoll said.

Please continue to read at the link provided.

[Dan]

Originally posted on 10/29/06
by Kelly




More Trouble for Matthew Hurayt

More Trouble for Matthew Hurayt

Oct 26, 2006 05:53 PM CDT

Cleveland, OH - There is new information surrounding a "person of interest" in the disappearance of west side teenager Gina DeJesus. Matthew Hurayt was arrested and now facing a slew of charges including arson, insurance fraud, forgery, felony assault and abduction. He's also accused of intimidation and more. Cops call Hurayt one bad guy.

This, after officials dug up Hurayt's garage last month looking for clues in the disappearance of DeJesus - but came up empty.

[Dan]

Originally posted on 11/23/06
by Dan



Georgina DeJesus will be featured on the television program "Missing" Episode M-417.

Visit USA Missing Homepage

The show will air the week of November 20, 2006, and in most areas, is shown on the following weekend.

Please check out which station airs the program in your area by visiting the following link.

Links to TV Stations airing "Missing"

Then check out the station's site (provided in the above link) for the exact day and time the show airs.

All the following adults and children will be featured on this episode.

Patricia Freeman-Wright, Kenneth Ulrey, Cassandra Sanchez, Rosa Sanchez, Yesenia Sanchez, Irwin Stewart, Stella Moss, Christina Battin, Garrett Bardsley, Bonnie Cale, Samantha Burns, Justin Harris, Tracy Byrd, Trevor Angell, Fred Wright, Sarah Avon, Lakeisha Archie, Kurtis Patterson, Georgina DeJesus, Rene Romero, Muhammed Saad Siddiqui, Kianna Young, Craig Frear, Bianca Piper, Rachel White, Christopher Gulbraa, Michael Gulbraa.


The Weeks' featured cases on Television

[Dan]

Originally posted on 12/17/06
by Denise



Detectives return to home of man linked to missing West Side girl

Thursday, December 07, 2006
Donna J. Miller
Plain Dealer Reporter

Cleveland detectives on Wednesday returned to the home of the West Side man they earlier tried to link to the disappearance of Gina DeJesus.

Matthew Hurayt, 35, has been locked up since Oct. 26 while he awaits trial on multiple charges, including intimidating a crime victim, theft and assault. He is also being held on a probation violation.

Police didn't find evidence tying Matthew Hurayt to Gina in September when they dug up his garage floor. A tipster told police earlier this year that Hurayt was involved in the disappearance of the Cleveland girl, who went missing in April 2004, when she was 14 years old.
cleveland.com: Everything Cleveland

[Dan]

Originally posted on 01/14/07
by Denise



Finding missing children gives a Cleveland family renewed hope

Kristin Anderson
Created: 1/13/2007 5:31:06 PM
Updated:1/13/2007 10:22:57 PM

CLEVELAND -- The Missouri case is bringing hope to many families with missing children, including one on the West side of Cleveland.

Felix and Nancy have been glued to their t-v for a week --- hoping, and praying for the missing boys and their families in Missouri.

Watching them reunite is bringing a roller coaster of emotions.

"It's a miracle that they found these two young boys, I cried almost all night," said Gina's Father, Felix.

"That gives us all, other parents, hope to stand up stronger and never give up that hope because you never know, like now, you never know," said Gina's Mother, Nancy.

In April of 2004, their youngest daughter, 14-year old Gina DeJesus disappeared while walking home from her school, Wilbur Wright in Cleveland.

An intense search turned up nothing.

A year later the FBI released a sketch of a possible suspect, while the community showed their support by building a mound of stuffed animals outside Gina's window.

Her parents have never given up hope of finding their little girl alive, just like the parents in Missouri.

"Amazing, it's hard right now for me to find the exact words I want to say, my feelings, I know someday I know I'll go through it," said Nancy.

Gina's bedroom is now filled with angels, and candles that have been burning since she disappeared.
404 -- Page Not Found | wkyc.com

[Dan]

Originally posted on 02/02/07
by Denise



Luring Of 14-Year-Old Girl Not Considered Crime In Ohio

POSTED: 4:50 pm EST January 29, 2007
UPDATED: 5:06 pm EST January 29, 2007

CLEVELAND -- A local neighborhood on Cleveland's west side is gripped with fear after a number of attempted abductions.

The incidents occurred in the area of Lorain and West 76th Street, but police said there is little they can do about it, reported NewsChannel5's Joe Pagonakis.

In the latest incident, a 14-year-old Cleveland school student was walking in the area Monday morning when a man in his early 20s tried to talk her into his car.

Police were called and a report was filed, and investigators were given a vague description.

But according to state law, the attempted abductor didn't commit a crime.

Police are looking for the man, but confirmed that if the victim is 14 years of age or older, it is not considered a child enticement, no matter what the driver says to the would-be victim.

The girl, who is a distant relative of missing girl Gina DeJesus, said Monday's incident has given her a new perspective.
Luring Of 14-Year-Old Girl Not Considered Crime In Ohio - News

[Dan]

Originally posted on 02/12/07
by Kelly

Officials Release Age-Progressed Photo Of Missing Teen - News

Officials Release Age-Progressed Photo Of Missing Teen

POSTED: 12:09 pm EST February 12, 2007
UPDATED: 12:27 pm EST February 12, 2007

CLEVELAND -- The local FBI has released a new picture of a missing teen. Officials released a photo of what she may look like with age progression.

Gina DeJesus disappeared from Cleveland's west side as she was walking home April 2, 2004. If you can help find her or know any information, call the FBI.

[Dan]

Originally posted on 04/04/07
by Kelly




http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_articl...provider=gnews

Missing for three years: The push to find teen remains strong


Created: 4/3/2007 6:57:29 AM
Updated:4/3/2007 10:11:10 AM


CLEVELAND -- Each year, the DeJesus family comes back to Lorain Avenue and West 104th Street.
And each year, they hang up fliers and hold out hope that this is the yera Gina comes home.

Often, the DeJesus family sits on their front porch. Her father, Felix, says "now when somebody drives by like I want to go inside the car and search that car."

Her sister says it's like a nightmare you can't wake up from.

Gina disappeared walking home from Wilbur Wright Middle School three years ago.

That's why Gina's family still has vigils -- to remind the public that Gina may still out there. They hand out fliers and candles.

The DeJesus family waits for the day Gina comes home.

A $25,000 reward is being offered for any information that lead police to Gina's safe return.

[Dan]

Originally posted on 04/04/07
by Denise



for Gina Dejesus Missing 3 Years

Last Edited: Monday, 02 Apr 2007, 10:47 PM EDT
Created: Monday, 02 Apr 2007, 10:47 PM EDT

It's now been three years since 14-year-old Gina Dejesus disappeared, and her family held a vigil Monday in her honor.
MyFox Cleveland | Vigil for Gina Dejesus Missing 3 Years

[Kelly]

http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=68090&provider=gnews

Home videos may help find missing girls

"Caitlin Kollar "

Updated:5/21/2007 6:37:43 AM

CLEVELAND -- Their names are Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus. One was coming home from work, the other from school, but neither made it.
You've seen their posters and know their names, but now a never before look into the lives of two girls who vanished without a trace.

Until now these home videos were just private family memories. Now investigators hope they will be the missing link they need to solve these cases.

Chances are you've seen the pictures of Amanda Berry and Gina Dejesus on your TV more have than once. Now there is home video of Amanda and video of Gina too.

Both families provided us with a copy of their precious moments.

Gina's family and her sister hope the tapes might get someone watching to remember something.

Gina vanished April 2, 2004. Amanda disappeared a year before on April 21, 2003. Both girls were last seen walking across the street from this parking lot.

The years have been tough on the families and on investigators too who think home video like this might help.

Any information on the cases is much appreciated. What is not appreciated is intentional wrong information which has come in and slowed down the investigations.

Now the hope is this home video will make someone remember something they weren't sure about in the past and force someone to do the right thing.

With the anguish and frustration of living without Gina and Amanda, both families trust investigators are doing all they can.

May 25, marks the 25th National Missing Children's Day.

[Denise]

http://www.newsnet5.com/news/13503784/detail.html

Photos Of Missing Teens To Be Posted During Finals Game
Girls Disappeared In Same Neighborhood One Year Apart

POSTED: 1:22 pm EDT June 14, 2007
UPDATED: 2:32 pm EDT June 14, 2007

CLEVELAND -- The photos of two missing Cleveland girls will be shown Thursday night at Quicken Loans Arena during Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

The family of Gina DeJesus said the NBA and the Cavs will post photos of Gina and Amanda Berry.

Berry, now 21, went missing in 2003 and Gina, now 17, disappeared in 2004. Both disappeared in broad daylight on Lorain Avenue on Cleveland's near west side.

Police are still working actively on both cases and hope their pictures in front of thousands of pairs of eyes might jog someone's memory.

[Kelly]

http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=69609&provider=gnews

NBA and Cavaliers with the assist for two Cleveland families


Paul Thomas
Created: 6/13/2007 11:20:39 PM
Updated:6/14/2007 12:01:50 AM


CLEVELAND -- All eyes are on Cleveland for the NBA Finals.
And the families of two missing girls hope more eyes will help in the search for their loved ones.

14-year-old Gina Dejesus disappeared while walking home from school three years ago. Amanda Berry vanished after leaving her job in 2003.

Thursday night at Quicken Loans Arena, the photos of both girls, along with age progression pictures of how they may look currently, will be played on the Cavaliers scoreboard.

"I thanked them from the bottom of my heart," said Nancy Ruiz, mother of Gina Dejesus. "They've given me this chance, this hope."

The photos will be shown before the game and at halftime. And fliers with the girls' information will be taped to the arena's doors.

A friend of both families wrote a letter to the Cavaliers asking for permission to post Amanda's and Gina's photos. The Cavaliers and NBA officals gave their approval.

"You never know," Ruiz said. "If somebody just sees these girls or saw my baby, to call and help me bring my baby home. Both of them."

[Linda]

http://www.amw.com/missing_children/case.cfm?id=26744

June 26 2007

Anything But Ordinary

Gina was walking home from school with her friend Arlene when she disappeared.

View Larger

It was a typical school day at Wilbur Wright Middle School on Parkhurst Drive in Cleveland, Ohio. Around 2:30 in the afternoon, Gina DeJesus left the school with one of her good friends, Arlene. The two girls began walking down Lorain Avenue, making plans to spend the afternoon together. Arlene needed to call her mom to ask permission to hang out at Gina's house, so Gina gave her 50 cents to make a call from a pay phone.

Arlene's mom told her that she had to come straight home, so the two girls parted ways. Gina began to walk the remaining thirty blocks to her home. Her mother had given her $1.25 that morning so that she could take the bus, but since she had given 50 cents to her friend, she didn't have enough money left to ride the bus. It wasn't out of the ordinary for Gina to walk home from school.

According to Gina's parents, she was usually home by 3:35 when she walked home from school. By 3:45, Gina's mother began to worry. By 5:30 she was very alarmed that her daughter had not made it home yet, and called the police to report her missing.

Dead Ends

The FBI developed this composite sketch of a person of interest in Gina's disappearance. View Larger

When the police first arrived on the scene, they investigated Gina's disappearance as a runaway child. There was no evidence to support that she had been abducted, and nobody had seen anything out of the ordinary. But according to police, the more they learned about Gina's disappearance, the more suspicious it seemed.

The Cleveland Office of the FBI became involved after two of Gina's friends from school claimed that they had seen a strange man hanging around the school asking for Gina the day before she disappeared. The FBI worked with the girls to develop a composite sketch of the man they had seen.

Police dogs were also used to try and track Gina's scent down Lorain Avenue. The dogs picked up her scent at the payphone she had stopped at with Arlene, and followed her trail down the road for about 100 yards. Then, the trail abruptly went cold and the dogs could find nothing else.

Are Two Disappearances Connected?
Police and FBI looked into the possibility that Gina's mysterious disappearance could be related to the disappearance of another teenage girl almost exactly a year before.

Amanda Berry was 17-years-old when she went missing, and there had been very few leads in her case. When Gina also went missing, almost exactly a year afterwards, and just a few blocks away from where Amanda vanished, officials could not ignore the fact that the cases could be related.

Although no concrete evidence has of yet been discovered to definitively link the two cases, a connection also cannot be completely ruled out. Agents say too many similarities exist that keep them from determining that the cases are unrelated. Both girls were young, attractive teenagers walking home on the same street as it began to get dark. Both girls disappeared without anyone seeing anything, and both cases have had surprisingly few promising leads.

Time Marches On
Months and years passed, with no promising leads about Gina's disappearance. Tips continued to steadily flow in to the FBI, but still there were no answers. Then, in September 2006, the FBI received a tip that they thought could actually lead somewhere. A tipster left information about a registered sex offender who lived on Cleveland's West Side, close to where Gina disappeared.

Agents went to the house to question the man. They did not have a warrant to search the premises, because they had not yet gathered enough evidence. But when authorities asked the man if they could dig up the cement floor of his garage and search through his backyard, he agreed. The FBI was acting on information that Gina's remains could be hidden underneath the garage floor.

Although a thorough search was performed of the garage and the backyard, nothing was found to substantiate the claim that this man had been involved in Gina's disappearance. The FBI concluded that the information they received had been false, and this man was not involved with Gina's case.

New Efforts To Find Answers

This age-progressed photograph by the FBI shows what Gina might look like at age 17.

View Larger

Soon after the third anniversary of Gina's disappearance passed, the FBI released an age-enhanced photograph. The picture shows what Gina would look like at age 17. Agents hope that the release of the picture into the media will help bring some attention back to this case. The more people that are exposed to this picture, the more likely it is that someone will recognize Gina, or maybe remember something important about the day that Gina disappeared.