UPDATE: TODDLERS FOUND SAFE
UPDATE: MISSING TODDLERS LOCATED.
As part of the on-going search for the missing toddlers, a San Francisco Police officer assigned to Mission Station went to the Family and Children’s Emergency Service Office on Otis Street. The officer inquired about the two missing toddlers and staff members there inform the officer that they had just received a call from St. Francis Hospital. The Hospital staff told Social Services that a woman had just walked into the Hospital with the two missing toddlers.
At 3:45PM, Officers from Tenderloin Station responded to St. Francis Hospital where they located the missing toddlers and the acquaintance “Jacquita” who the mother had left in their care. The toddlers appeared to be in good health and will be medically evaluated and investigators from the Special Victims Unit will be conducting further investigation. Child Protective Services will also be involved in that investigation.
This is an on-going investigation and no further details are available at this time.
ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE:
Investigators from the San Francisco Police Department’s Special Victims Unit (SVU) are seeking assistance from the public in locating two missing toddlers. The toddlers were last seen in the Carl’s Junior restaurant near Hallidie Plaza on March 21, 2016 at approximately 2:24 AM.
The missing toddlers are: Mekaylah Jones, female, 2-1/2 years old, last seen wearing a blue T-shirt, pink tank top and blue jeans. Her hair was worn in a ponytail. Also missing is Renyce Young, female, 14 months old, last seen wearing a baby blue jumpsuit with a design of yellow stars or hearts and hair in cornrows. Both toddlers were in a side by side stroller and were left in the care of an acquaintance of the children’s mother.
The mother of the children, Shanyce Jones, 26, of Oakland reported the children missing at Tenderloin Station on March 22, 2016 at 10:00PM. During the course of the preliminary investigation, it was determined that Jones and the children had been at the Burger King restaurant on the 1200 block of Market Street on March 21, 2016 between 12 Noon and 2:00PM. Jones met a person named “Jacquita” whom she had met approximately two months prior. Jones left the children with Jacquita after making arrangements to meet her at a restaurant in Hallidie Plaza three hours later. Jones was late to the pre-arranged meeting and arranged to meet Jacquita on March 22nd. When Jones went to the restaurant on March 22nd, Jacquita and the children were not to be found. During interviews, Jones made inconsistent statements to investigators who developed probable cause to arrest Jones. She was later booked on child endangerment and possession of controlled substance charges. Jones remains in custody.
The SFPD has implemented a continuous search for the missing toddlers and issued a teletype. The Department is requesting assistance from the public in locating the mission children as well as Jacquita who is described as a 30-40 year old female of Puerto Rican descent, 5’-04”, 140 pounds last seen wearing a black jacket and blue jeans. The Department is not considering this to be an abduction case at this time.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Special Victims Unit at (415) 553-9225, the Anonymous Tip Line at (415) 575-4444 or Text a Tip to, TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.