JANAYA THOMPSON - 5 yo (7/2014)/ Charged: Alberto Julio Garcia - Gulfport MS

Janaya Thompson, 5, of Gulfport reported missing, police asking for public's help in locating her

By Gareth Clary | GulfLive.com
on July 17, 2014 at 3:44 AM,



GULFPORT, Mississippi -- The Gulfport Police Department is requesting the public's assistance in locating missing 5-year-old Janaya Makayia Thompson of Gulfport, according to a Chief Leonard Papania.

At approximately 8:29 p.m. on Wednesday, the Gulfport Police Department responded to the Palms Apartments located at 10471 Three Rivers Road in reference to a report of a missing child.

Janaya was last seen in the parking lot near the apartment. She was last seen wearing a black t-shirt with a white "Hello Kitty" design on the chest and white sweat pants with purple/yellow rainbows.

Papania said the Gulfport Police Department is utilizing all resources to locate Janaya to include, the Gulfport Fire Department, Gulf Coast Search and Rescue, the Harrison County Sheriff's Department Air Unit, and neighboring residents of the apartment.

The chief said this is being treated as a missing person call. Anyone with any information is urged to contact the Gulfport Police Department at 228-868-5959.

http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/07/janaya_thompson_5_of_gulfport.html

Police: Child's body found at trailer park

Posted: Jul 16, 2014 11:50 PM CDT
Updated: Jul 17, 2014 9:54 AM CDT
By Renee Johnson

GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -
The body of a child has been found at a trailer park on Whitney Drive.

Gulfport Police say she was found just before 9am. They aren't confirming that it is 5-year-old Janaya Thompson, but it is a young black girl.

"This is a tragedy, not a story," Gulfport Police Chief Leonard Papania said as he briefed news crews at Bel-Aire Elementary this morning. "We appreciate your patience as we continue to investigate. We will not release any more information at this time."

http://www.wlox.com/story/26039645/have-you-seen-this-missing-girl

    Why do they keep letting them out? Prayers for her family.  

Body of missing five-year-old girl is found in mobile home less than a mile from her apartment 12 hours after she disappeared

○ Janaya Thompson, 5, was first reported missing Wednesday night in coastal Gulfport Mississippi
○ She was last seen in her apartment complex's parking lot around 8:30pm
○ Her body was discovered this morning in an abandoned mobile home less than half a mile from her apartment
○ Father Jarmal Thompson claims a man who volunteered to help search for his daughter is responsible

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
PUBLISHED: 12:40 EST, 17 July 2014
UPDATED: 15:50 EST, 17 July 2014

Police in Gulfport, Mississippi have called off the search for a missing 5-year-old girl after finding her body in an abandoned mobile home this morning.

Little Janaya Thompson was first reported missing Wednesday night, and was last seen around 8:30pm in a parking lot just outside her family's apartment on Klein Road.

She was found 12 hours later in a vacant trailer home less than half a mile from the apartment complex.

Police have released few details on Janaya's case, but say foul play is suspected.

The girl's father Jarmal Thompson told the Sun Herald that he believes a man who volunteered to search for his daughter is involved in the death.

Mr Thompson says the volunteer drove himself and other family members around in a car during the search, but kept disappearing. He claims authorities found a barrette in the volunteer's car that belonged to his daughter.

'They showed it to me but I didn't want to tamper with evidence,' Mr Thompson said.

Family gathered and grieved outside of the mobile home Wednesday afternoon, when Janaya's body was moved.

Janaya's mother has since been taken to the hospital.

'One of us has to be strong,' Mr Thompsons said.

Janaya's aunt Greta Hinton described her neice as a sweet and talkative girl who was looking forward to starting kindergarten in the fall.

She live with her mother, father, grandmother and other relatives.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2696306/Police-end-search-girl-finding-body.html

Update: FBI member, Gulfport detective will be present for Janaya Thompson autopsy today
Body of 5-year-old Janaya Thompson found in vacant trailer after all-night search

BY ROBIN FITZGERALD AND JOHN FITZHUGH, Sun Herald
July 17, 2014
Updated 12 hours ago

GULFPORT -- The overnight search for 5-year-old Janaya Thompson ended after 12 hours when her body was found about 8:45 a.m. Thursday in a vacant mobile home on Whitney Drive, just north of her family's apartment at The Palms on Klein Road.

Harrison County Coroner Gary Hargrove said Janaya's body was in a bathroom. A piece of clothing with the child's scent helped a Gulf Coast Search and Rescue dog lead authorities to her, he said.

An autopsy is expected to be performed by this morning. Hargrove said the FBI in Jackson was sending an emergency-response team member to attend the autopsy with a Gulfport police detective and to help go over the evidence.

District Attorney Joel Smith said foul play is suspected.

Her death is being investigated as a homicide.

Janaya lived across the street from Bel-Aire Elementary, where she was to start kindergarten in a few weeks. She lived with her mother, Latisha Boykin, her father, Jarmal Thompson, a grandmother and a couple of other relatives.

"She was very sweet, talkative and never met a stranger," said her aunt, Greta Hinton. "She was real lovable."

Search begins with hope

Janaya's mother reported her missing at 8:29 p.m. Wednesday, telling police the girl had been just outside the apartment's door. She was last seen in the apartment complex parking lot.

She was wearing a white Hello Kitty T-shirt and white sweat pants with purple and yellow rainbows and her hair was in a ponytail.

Police set up a command post at The Palms but moved to the school parking lot about 11 p.m. as concerned people showed up to help police, firefighters and others search. By Thursday morning, the school principal opened the building so police could hold their briefings inside.

"So many people came out offering to help search for her and offering to give the family moral support, to pray with them," police Sgt. Damon McDaniel said. "It became a huge effort with a tremendous outpouring from the community. We want to help bring this family justice and some closure."

Search ends in heartbreak

A helicopter from the Harrison County Sheriff's Office circled the neighborhood for several hours Thursday morning. Then the sound of the helicopter went silent.

Police Chief Leonard Papania confirmed the discovery of a child's body in a press conference outside the school.

"The search has been called off," he said, and offered thanks to the public for their efforts to help.

Attention quickly turned to a vacant mobile home just north of The Palms.

Janaya's family, friends and strangers who came to support them gathered across the street. It would be several hours before evidence collection inside the home was completed and Janaya's body removed.

Family, friends speak out

As news of her death spread, relatives sobbed loudly and held each other to keep from collapsing. Janaya's grief-stricken mother was taken to a hospital.

"One of us has to be strong," Janaya's father said.

Family members and people at the crime scene said police questioned a man Wednesday night and let him go. They said the man had a bite mark and scratches on his hands.

Police officials said the man was interviewed but was not arrested.

Thompson believes the man involved in his daughter's death volunteered to help search for her.

The man gave him and relatives a ride during the search, kept disappearing, and a hair barrette was later found in his car, Thompson said.

"They showed it to me but I didn't want to tamper with evidence," he said.

'It was surreal'

A couple of people in the crowd became angry and began shouting at police, blaming them for not making an arrest.

Family friend Nicole James of Gulfport, intervened, asking for prayer.

"Join hands, please everybody," she said.

The small crowd formed a large circle as she led them in prayer for the child's family.

About 1 p.m., police set up screens to shield the girl's body from the crowd's view as her remains were put in the back of a funeral home vehicle.

City support

Gulfport Mayor Billy Hewes, who visited the police command center earlier Thursday, issued this statement:

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Janaya Thompson. This tragedy has rocked the foundation of our community. We have confidence in the compassion and professionalism of our police officers, and will devote all resources at our disposal to the solving of this crime.

"We ask our community support the efforts of this investigation and for the continued prayers for this family."

Police officials said the investigation is ongoing.

"We want to hear from anyone who has information that can help bring justice and some closure to this family," McDaniel said.

To give a tip, call police at 868-5959.

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2014/07/17/5701802/gulfport-police-looking-for-missing.html#storylink=cpy

Police arrest two persons of interest in Janaya Thompson case
5-year-old was strangled, coroner says

BY PATRICK OCHS, pochs@sunherald.com
July 18, 2014
Updated 9 minutes ago

GULFPORT -- The police have arrested two men described as persons of interest in the capital murder investigation of 5-year-old Janaya Thompson.

Chief Leonard Papania said Julian Gray, 31, was arrested on charges of sexual battery and rape related to an April incident at his apartment with an adult female acquaintance. Alberto Julio Garcia, 29, was also arrested on a charge of residential burglary that occurred July 12 at the mobile home where Thompson's body was found. Both men live together on Klein Road.

Harrison County coroner Gary Hargrove said Thompson died because of asphyxiation due to strangulation.

Thompson's body was discovered by searchers about 8:45 a.m. Thursday in the bathroom of an abandoned mobile home on Whitney Drive.

The home is located just north of the family's apartment at The Palms on Klein Road.

Police Sgt. Damon McDaniel cautioned that the investigation is ongoing.

The Sun Herald is working to update the report.

http://www.sunherald.com/2014/07/18/5703600/gulfport-police-press-conference.html#storylink=cpy

What a beautiful little girl.            What a tragedy.         

Amber Alert would have added little to search for Janaya

By ANITA LEE
calee@sunherald.com Twitter: calee99July 18, 2014 Updated 5 hours ago


Janaya Thompson's body was found in a vacant trailer in Gulfport on Thursday. She was 5 years old and had disappeared the night before.

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The Mississippi Highway Patrol had too little information for an Amber Alert on 5-year-old Janaya Thompson, a spokesman said.
Nobody had a description of an abductor or a vehicle, or knew in which direction the child might have been taken when she disappeared Wednesday evening, MHP spokesman Warren Strain said. He also said police were unsure at that point whether she might have wandered away or gone with a relative.

The Amber Alert, he said, would have added no further details to what the Gulfport Police Department sent out about Janaya at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, three hours after her family reported her missing. The media alert included a recent photograph of Janaya, a description of her "Hello Kitty" T-shirt and other clothing, and where she was last seen.

Each state has its own Amber Alert criteria, established under U.S. Justice Department's guidance.

Mississippi's criteria says Amber Alerts can be issued only if all these criteria are met:

[*]An age of 17 years old and younger (a vulnerable adult also qualifies).
[*]A threat of imminent danger is present.
[*]Credible descriptions of the abductor, the child taken and the escape vehicle.

"The Amber Alert program is so successful, we tend to be a victim of that success," said Bob Hoever, director of special programs, including Amber Alerts, at The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. "People are so used to thinking of Amber Alerts, they think of that as being the only tool out there and it's not. It's only one tool."

Hoever said three hours to get out a description is good, considering the police have to do some initial investigation and gather information and a photograph.

In addition to notifying the media about Janaya's disappearance, the Gulfport Police Department had teams searching for her Wednesday night, assisted by community volunteers. Hoever said residents should ask themselves what would have been gained by an Amber Alert if police had already given the public all the descriptive information available.

http://www.sunherald.com/2014/07/18/5704142/amber-alert-would-have-added-little.html#storylink=cpy

A community celebrates the life of Janaya Thompson

Posted: Jul 22, 2014 10:36 AM CDT
Updated: Jul 22, 2014 1:16 PM CDT
By WLOX Staff - email

Janaya Thompson was remembered at a memorial service at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Gulfport.

GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) - It was a sad morning in Gulfport as a community helped a family say goodbye to five year old Janaya Thompson. Her memorial service got underway just after 11 Tuesday morning at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Gulfport.

People who knew Janaya stood up and shared stories of the little girl who had touched their lives. "Naya" could light up a room and make people smile. That according to her teachers and family. One teacher remembered how Janaya loved her bling and that she would come to school covered in blingy jewelry and soon the rest of the class was sporting bling because Janaya shared. The teacher spoke of the little girl with a generous heart who could light up a room with her smile and how she would be missed.

Among the grief and tears there were promises that Janaya would not be forgotten. Not by those closest to her or by those who have come to know her through her death. Gulfport Mayor Billy Hewes told those who gathered that the city mourned for this young girl who was taken too soon from our lives. Mayor Hewes eloquently told the family, "We're faithful, hopeful and we put our trust in God." He went on to say, "God is going to get us through this."

Among those paying respect to the family, the Gulfport police officials in charge of the investigation into Janaya's murder. The crowd applauded the men in blue as they stepped forward to share some private words with the family.

Person after person stood up to celebrate this precious, five year old angel who touched their lives. There were tears, there were memories and there were promises that this youngster and her short life would not be forgotten. All were woven into a service of music, prayer and hope.

http://www.wlox.com/story/26081120/a-community-celebrates-the-life-janaya-thompson

Arrest Made in Death of Janaya Thompson
Published: 7/23 4:26 pm Updated: 7/23 4:29 pm   

A south Mississippi man has been charged with capital murder in the slaying and sexual assault of a 5-year-old girl who was taken from an apartment complex last week.

Gulfport Police Chief Leonard Papania says charges were filed Wednesday against 29-year-old Alberto Julio Garcia of Gulfport, identified several days ago as a person of interest in the slaying of Ja-Naya (juh-NAY-uh) Thompson.

Papania says Garcia will be held without bond. Garcia has been in jail since he was arrested Friday in an unrelated case.

The child was last seen outside her family's apartment the evening of July 16. Her body was found the next day in an abandoned trailer nearby. The coroner says she was strangled to death.

It was not immediately clear whether the suspect has an attorney.

http://www.wxxv25.com/news/local/story/Arrest-Made-in-Death-of-Janaya-Thompson/oMOAGeDFSEW85hBy232JGg.cspx

     Don't you just want to slap that arrogant face? I'm sorry, but to think that he killed a beautiful little child and can just pose for that mug shot like that. He won't be so smug in prison, or the chair.  I'll never understand it.

God Bless Ja-Naya's family