Name: Jarrod Duke Johnston
Age: 18 years old
Last seen: July 7, 2007
Location: Yazoo City, Mississippi
Status: Still Missing
Disappeared: Season 6 Episode 15 “At the Crossroads”
Case Information
18-year-old Jarrod Johnston was last seen in Yazoo City, Mississippi on July 7, 2007.
He disappeared after walking off from his grandmother’s house following a heated argument. He never returned home, and has not been heard from since.
Background
Jarrod Johnston was born on August 21, 1988.
He lived in Franklin, Kentucky with his three siblings, his father and stepmother. The Johnston family had moved to Kentucky from Yazoo City, Mississippi, and at the time of his disappearance Jarrod had friends and a girlfriend living there.
Jarrod is described as outgoing, spontaneous, and having the most infectious laugh by his friend and family. He loved music, especially the guitar. His passions also included theater and poetry.
At the time of his disappearance, Jarrod was eligible for a full ride scholarship to any state school because of his high grades and ACT scores.
Disappearance
On June 4, 2007, Jarrod and his family left their home in Franklin, Kentucky, for a 500 mile drive trip to Yazoo City, Mississippi.
They brought along two of the youngest siblings who were to stay with their grandmother, Lisa’s mother, for summer break while Jarrod was to stay with his friends for a couple of weeks.
On July 7, 2007, the parents of one of Jarrod’s friends took him back to his grandmother’s residence. Apparently they hadn’t been notified that Jarrod was planning to stay at their place for several weeks.
Soon after, Jarrod got into a heated argument with his grandmother over his unplanned stay at her house. She had recently undergone hip surgery and she was afraid Jarrod would steal her painkiller pills as he has done in the past.
Jarrod walked off at 3:00 pm, taking with him a black duffel bag, a backpack, a walnut-colored Ibanez guitar in a black carrying case, and $20 in cash. His sister went after him and tried to calm him down, telling him to call their parents in Kentucky
Jarrod never returned home and has not heard from since.
His grandmother informed his family back in Kentucky about the situation. They decided to give him some space and time to cool off. They assumed he would go stay with his girlfriend who was living in Yazoo City.
Three weeks later, his parents called the police to file a missing persons report after Jarrod never returned home.
Investigation
Jarrod left behind his wallet, that included his ID and social security card, in his girlfriend’s car back in January 2007. He did not have his cellphone with him when he disappeared.
The mother of Jarrod’s friend told his family that she saw him in the early morning of July 8, 2007, walking through downtown Yazoo City, just fifteen hours after she dropped him off with his grandmother.
A cousin also told his family that he saw Jarrod at a mall parking lot in Jackson, Mississippi in December 2007. At the time, he wasn’t aware that Jarrod was missing and lost sight of him when he briefly turned away.
His family reported this new finding to the sheriff’s office and drove down to the mall in March 2008.
A jewelry store cashier at the mall remembered seeing Jarrod come in shopping for an engagement ring back in December 2007. His card was reportedly declined and he promised he would come back with another one, but never showed up again.
Jarrod had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder in the past, and only had a three month supply of medication when he disappeared. He also had been in a rehabilitation center for two years due to drug abuse before his junior year in the past.
Whereabouts
Foul play isn’t suspected in Jarrod Johnston disappearance. Authorities believe he walked off on his own, but his father believes that something happened to his son soon after he left his grandmother’s house.
The circumstances of Jarrod Johnston’s disappearance are unclear, and his case is currently classified as missing. His case remains unsolved.
Appearance
Physical Description:
Caucasian male with brown hair and brown eyes.
He is 5’11” tall and weighs 135-155 pounds.
Distinctive Physical Features:
Large birthmark on his abdomen. Front tooth is capped. He has Native American ancestry, so his complexion is fair to olive in color.
Clothing and accessories:
Jarrod was last seen wearing blue jeans, a black t-shirt and a red ball cap. He wears a digital type wristwatch with a black band that he may interchange with colored wristbands.
He was carrying a black duffel bag with various articles of similar clothing (jeans, t-shirts). He also took his guitar, a walnut-colored Ibenez in a black cloth/vinyl carrying case.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Jarrod Johnston please contact the Yazoo County Sheriff’s office at (662) 741-5611 or the CUE Center For Missing Persons at (910) 343-1131 and 24 hour tip line (910) 232-1687.
Resources & Further Information
Find Jarrod Johnston – Facebook
Jarrod Duke Johnston – National Missing Person Directory
Missing Person #MP5502 – Jarrod Duke Johnston – NamUs
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