The Norton Shores Police Department has reclassified the missing person investigation of gas station employee Jessica Heeringa as an abduction or kidnapping.
Norton Shores Police Chief Dan Shaw said based on the investigation and evidence that it appears that Heeringa was preparing to close the Exxon Mobil gas station at 1196 E. Sternberg Road when the incident occurred.
Heeringa, 25, was supposed to be working but not able to be located after police were called to the gas station at about 11:15 p.m. Friday. Customers had called 911 after entering the store and finding no employees present, police have said.
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“The caller indicated that the store was still open, however there was no clerk inside the store,” said Norton Shores Police Chief Dan Shaw. “Officers responded and confided that indeed the clerk, Jessica Heeringa, was missing at that time.”
Her purse and other belongings were found undisturbed, along with cash in her purse, according to police. The cash register was also left out and there was no money missing, police said.
There was no struggle inside the store and it is apparent that “burglary or robbery was not the cause of this incident,” Shaw said during a press conference Sunday, April 28.
Heeringa – Van.jpgHere is a stock photo of the type of Chrysler van that Norton Shores Police are looking for.Norton Shores Police
Based on tips that the Norton Shores Police Department has received, investigators are currently searching for a silver minivan, possibly a Chrysler Town & Country, that was last seen in the area prior to Heeringa’s disappearance. The evidence is based on a passerby observing the car parked near the gas station and driving away, police said.
The driver is described as a white male, approximately 30 to 40 years old, 6 feet tall, medium to heavy build with broad shoulders, light brown or sandy blonde wavy hair parted in the middle and slightly longer on top. He was last seen wearing a bright red or orange sweatshirt, police said.
Heeringa is described as a white female, 5 feet 1 inch tall, about 110 pounds, with blond, shoulder-length hair and blue eyes. Heeringa is also known to wear wired rim glasses. She may be wearing a blue collared shirt with “Sternberg Exxon” on it, the police chief said.
“Last time we can absolutely say for sure she was seen in the store was at approximately 10 minutes before 11:00,” Shaw said. “We received a call about 11:15, so there is about a 20-minute window time there, so it could’ve happened anywhere in that time.”
Police are not sure whether Heeringa knows the man they are looking for with the minivan.
“I wouldn’t want to assume … that she did or did not know who this was,” Shaw said.
In addition, the gas station did not have security cameras and police believe that she was the only person working at that time, police said.
A task force of investigators from the Norton Shores Police Department, Michigan State Police, Muskegon County Sheriff’s Office, Muskegon Police Department and Muskegon County Prosecutor’s Office are all investigating the case.
“At this time four persons of interest have been interviewed and cleared in this disappearance,” Shaw said.
The department has also contacted FBI.
Shaw said anyone who may have tips to contact Silent Observer at 231-72-CRIME (231-722-7463) or call 911.
