16-year-old Jarrett Brooks was last seen in Joseph City, Arizona on July 4, 2023. He disappeared early in the morning after leaving his family home on the Fourth of July.
Background
Jarrett Thomas Brooks was born on December 7, 2006 to parents Laura and Brian Brooks. He is the middle of seven children. At the time of his disappearance he was living with his family on Boyce Drive in Joseph City, Arizona.
Jarrett often worked general maintenance for many ranchers in the area and was a member of the Explorer Program for the Joseph City Fire District. He was home schooled by his mother.
Disappearance
On July 3, 2023, Jarrett’s parents discovered that he went off-roading with his father’s vehicle when he wasn’t supposed to and broke the CV axle. He was grounded as a result and his phone was taken from him before he went to bed between 9:00 – 10:00 pm.
After waking up at approximately 6:15 am on July 4, 2023, Jarrett asked his mother if he was grounded from driving or grounded altogether. She told him he was grounded altogether and that he wouldn’t be allowed to take part in any Fourth of July festivities nor get his cell phone back.
Jarrett was captured on his family’s CCTV taking a handgun from his father’s safe that morning between 6:00 – 7:00 am.
Around 6:30 am, Jarrett left his family home in the 4400 block of Boyce Drive, near Interstate 40, in Joseph City, Arizona. His family initially assumed that he had gone outside to walk the dog.
Jarrett Brooks never returned home that day and hasn’t been heard from since. His family filed a runaway juvenile report with the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office around 12:30 pm when Jarrett hadn’t returned home.
Investigation
A young man matching Jarrett’s description was reportedly seen at a neighbor’s ranch on Lacy Lane, walking through the pasture and carrying a handgun, around 7:00 am on July 4, 2023.
When the neighbor went to approach the young man about 10 minutes later on Haul Road he was gone.
Authorities conducted a search for Jarrett in the area and his scent was picked up by dogs before it was lost on the west end of town. Witnesses later reported seeing Jarrett in Winslow, Arizona, about 22 miles away.
Jarrett didn’t have a bank account and his wallet, which contained his driver’s license, was found left behind inside his vehicle. He was in possession of a pocket knife, as well as his father’s handgun when he disappeared.
Authorities believe Jarrett may have gone to Winslow, Arizona, or San Antonio, Austin, Temple or Stamford, Texas.
On January 3, 2024, multiple search warrants were served in Joseph County and Phoenix related to Jarrett’s disappearance.
Police say the warrants are focused on computer forensics evidence and cyber communications. The investigation remains ongoing, and no arrests have been made at this time.
Whereabouts
Police found no evidence of foul play in Jarrett Brooks’ disappearance. A $50,000 reward is being offered by anonymous donors for information leading to Jarrett’s safe return to his family.
The circumstances of Jarrett Brooks’ disappearance remain unclear and his case is currently classified as missing. His case remains unsolved.
Appearance
Physical Description:
White male born on December 7, 2006. Jarrett has strawberry blonde hair, brown eyes, stands 6’0 tall, and weighs 140 pounds.
Distinctive Physical Features:
Jarrett was last known to be with a mullet hairstyle. He has a cleft lip scar.
Clothing and accessories:
Jarrett was supposedly wearing a black t-shirt with “America” across the front, a dark colored baseball hat, blue jeans, and square toed cowboy boots.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Jarrett Brooks please contact the Navajo County Arizona Sheriff’s Department at (928) 524-4050. Agency Case Number: 2307-0135
The Disappearance of Jaliek Rainwalker
12 year old Jaliek Rainwalker was last seen in Greenwich, New York on November 1, 2007. He was last seen with his adoptive father, who says he ran away during the night.
Background
In 2002, Jaliek Rainwalker moved in with foster parents Stephen Kerr and Jocelyn McDonald, joining their three biological children and adopted daughter. It was his seventh set of foster parents. In 2004 the couple moved to adopt him.
According to his adoptive grandmother, the couple attempted to reverse the adoption about a month before he disappeared. They cited emotional issues including Reactive Attachment disorder, and said his siblings were afraid of him.
Former foster parents of Jaliek’s confirmed his emotional issues, saying he would have outbursts that could last for up to an hour. They had planned to adopt him after caring for him for four years, but decided he could no longer stay with them after he attacked their daughter when he was seven.
About a week before he disappeared, Kerr called a crisis hotline and said his son was unmanageable. Jaliek did not receive treatment or medication for his issues, and his adoptive parents said he was both suicidal and homicidal at the time of his disappearance.
The court suggested a temporary break rather than a full reversal of the adoption, so he was sent to stay with his former foster parents, Elaine and Tom Person, until Kerr picked him up November 1, 2007.
Disappearance
On November 1, 2007, Jaliek Rainwalker was last seen with his adoptive father, Stephen Kerr, at their house in the 10 block of Hill Street in Greenwich, New York. Kerr and Rainwalker were alone at the house together that night.
When he woke up at 7:30 am, Kerr says Jaliek was gone. He says he found a note written by Jaliek that stated: “Dear everybody, I’m sorry for everything. I won’t be a bother anymore. Goodbye, Jaliek.”
At approximately 9:00 am, Kerr called police and reported Jaliek missing.
Investigation
Extensive searches of the area were conducted with the help of helicopters, but no clues as to Jaliek’s whereabouts have been found.
His adoptive mother, Jocelyn McDonald, took a polygraph case, but Kerr refused. Both parents maintain their innocence and say they believe he ran away.
According to his former foster parents, Elaine and Tom Person, the goodbye note written by Jaliek was an assignment given to him by Kerr, asking him to apologize to the people he’d harmed. Jaliek had been temporarily staying with the Person’s up until the day before he disappeared. Tom says he saw Jaliek writing a note, and assumes it was the note found after he went missing.
Foul play is suspected in Jaliek’s disappearance, but no arrests have been made.
His adoptive father remains the main person of interest in his case. Surveillance video shows Kerr driving his van around Greenwich on the night of Jaliek’s disappearance, at the time he told police he was asleep. His cell phone records also shows he took a different route than what he told authorities.
According to authorities, they do not have enough evidence to charge anyone in connection to the case.
Appearance
Biracial male with light brown hair and green eyes. At the time of his disappearance, Jaliek stood 5’6 tall and weighed 105 pounds. He has several moles on his back.
He has a slight speech impediment and pronounces the letter “r” like a “w”.
Clothing & Accessories:
Jaliek was last seen wearing a yellow fleece pullover, a grey t-shirt with a dragon on the front, blue jeans, and black canvas high top sneakers.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Jaliek Rainwalker, please contact the New York State Police – Troop G Headquarters at (518) 783-3211, or the Greenwich Village Police Department at (518) 677-3044.
