Ella Jones: Washington teen suspected of talking to older stranger vanishes leaving family ‘extremely concerned’
SKAGIT COUNTY, WASHINGTON: A 14-year-old girl from Washington has gone missing after allegedly leaving her home to meet a man she met online.
Her mother, Sarah Merrill, is pleading for the public’s help in finding her daughter, Ella Jones, who has not been in contact with anyone since January, 5.
Ella Jones told her mother Sarah Merrill that she loved her
Merrill told Fox News that she last saw Jones on the night of January 5, when they had a normal evening and Jones went to bed at their house on North 20th Street in Mount Vernon.
The next morning, Merrill discovered that Jones was not in her room and had taken some of her belongings with her, including clothes, a blow dryer, and a flat iron.
“She even laid with me right before I went to bed. I was tired because I had a long week at work. And she said, ‘I love you. Goodnight,’ and left the room.”
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Merrill said she immediately went to Jones’ friend’s house and started asking questions, and found out that Jones’ friends were “immediately concerned” about her disappearance.
Jones had left a note for Merrill saying she loved her but had not heard from her since.
The family suspects Ella Jones was talking to someone online
Merrill said that Jones’ friends also revealed that Jones had been communicating with a man in his late 20s or early 30s online on platforms like Discord.
Merrill mentioned that she had previously disciplined Jones for conversing with the stranger by temporarily confiscating her phone. However, she was unaware of the seriousness of their relationship.
“I didn’t fully realize the gravity of it. …." Merrill said. “One friend had said that she really trusted him," and that she could be with him.
Merrill said that Jones’ friends gave her different versions of the same story that Jones is with the older man she met online.
Merrill explained that she had limited information and mentioned that the police had confiscated Jones' electronics for forensic analysis.
Ella Jones has left the family extremely concerned
Merrill expressed that Jones' disappearance was entirely uncharacteristic, causing her significant concern for Jones' well-being.
She is a “sweet, good-natured kid” who is loved by everyone.
"Everyone who knows her is extremely concerned about her well-being,” Merrill said.
Merrill said that there have been various reported sightings of Jones from different areas around Washington, mostly in the Everett area, but none have been confirmed.
Jones is described as 5 feet, 5 inches, a White female with brown hair, weighing approximately 135 pounds. She also likely took more clothing with her in a backpack.
Police are asking anyone who might see Jones to contact 911 immediately. Anyone with information regarding the 14-year-old girl’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Skagit County Dispatch at 360-428-3211.
