What Happened To Missing Gas Station Clerk Jessica Heeringa?
Police have disclosed new details about the missing gas station attendant, Jessica Heeringa, as the one-year anniversary of her disappearance from her shift at an Exxon gas station. This past year, according to Fox News, police did 33 searches by warrant and 20 consensual searches. Cell phones, social media accounts, homes and computers were all searched hoping to discover evidence that could break the case of the missing woman who police believe was abducted last spring. Jessica went missing April 26th, 2013. Norton Shores Police Department information says, according to ABC News, crime-scene photos indicate there was probably no struggle as Jessica was abducted from the gas station on Sternberg Road. Nothing in the gas station seemed out of place. This morning, the Norton Shores Police Department, issued a press release about the Heeringa investigation, “After one year of intensive investigation, we have not received or discovered the necessary information leading us to Jessica or her abductor.” Police did release a timeline of the details surrounding 25-year-old missing mother’s last shift at the gas station.
Police Timeline of Jessica’s Last Known Whereabouts April 26th:
2:44 p.m.: Jessica bought groceries at an Aldi on Henry St.
4:35 p.m.: Jessica started her shift at the gas station. It was reportedly common for Jessica to turn of the gas station’s rear security light and prop open the back door to smoke a cigarette or let her friends come in.
7:30 – 8:15 p.m.: Jessica’s boyfriend arrived at the gas station station in a silver full-size van he drove for work. Jessica and the man reportedly talked about their relationship. A customer told police Jessica was upset after the conversation.
7:40 – 8:50 p.m.: Jessica’s female friend entered the gas station through the front door to visit. The friend and a customer told police they say a bluish silver van pull up to Jessica when she was changing receipt paper for one of the gas pumps. The conversation Jessica had with the man appeared friendly.
10:55 p.m.: A female customer bought a lighter after entering the gas station. The customer told police Heeringa didn’t seem nervous or upset by this time.
11 p.m.: A station manager and her spouse rode their motorcycles eastbound on Sternberg Road. The gas station’s manager told police she saw a silver minivan enter the gas station slowly via the north drive of the Pointes Mall. It drove behind the station, did a u-turn and its headlights were turned off as it pulled behind the station facing west. Suspecting Jessica may be conspiring to theft, she turned around on Harvey Street to return to the station where she saw the minivan was parked on the north side of the Exxon station. The manager reported there were no other vehicles in the lot except it and Heeringa’s. She saw a person standing at the rear of the van with the hatch open. The person closed it quickly then reopened it, adjusting something. The person’s stool just taller than the van. The stranger got into the van and drove westbound on the service drive. She never saw a struggle or heard anyone yell for help. She did not see Jessica outside the rear of the gas station. As the van approached the location of the manager, she and her husband started their motorcycles and approached the service drive. She saw the driver was male and wearing a sweatshirt that was red or orange. The husband said the driver has “crazy” wavy hair and appeared alone. He noted the van was a silver. This vehicle was found by police in Traverse City. The couple said they didn’t get a license plate because they for some reason no longer believed a crime was being committed. The couple went home.
11:02 p.m: Surveillance video from inside another store showed silver minivan turning northbound onto Grand Haven Road.
11:03 p.m: Surveillance video from the Homestead Tavern showed the minivan driving northbound on Grand Haven Road.
11:05 p.m: Surveillance video from the Coin Zone showed it still driving northbound on Grand Haven Road.
11:10 p.m: A male customer tried to get gas but the pump wouldn’t work. He went inside the station and Jessica was not inside. He spoke with a customer in the parking lot and called 911.
11:15 p.m.: Police were dispatched to the gas station where Jessica was supposed to be working.
11:25 p.m.: Police searched the gas station, but could not find Jessica. They did find her jacket and purse, which contained 420 dollars in cash. Police went out the back door and noted it did not have an outside handle. Policed noticed a 2-inch by 3-inch blood stain on pavement which was found to be Jessica’s.
11.38 p.m.: The owner of the gas station was notified. The owner contacted a manager.
11:50 p.m.: The manager told police about her observations of the van and its driver. The manager said the drawer had already been counted for the next shift which meant Jessica was already closing the store. While talking to police, the manager noticed Jessica’s boyfriend drive past the gas station where the woman went missing in his work vehicle.
