Jada Justice
Indiana
Jada Justice, 2, was reported missing on June 16, 2009, after her babysitter and cousin, Engelica Castillo, 18, left her alone in an unlocked car while she went into the Glen Park Gas Station in Gary Indiana to buy milk and cigarettes at about 9:00pm.
Castillo called police when she found the toddler missing.
In the hours following Jada's disappearance, cops scoured the area with ground crews, choppers, and even the K-9 unit. But after an extensive search of the surrounding area, cops emerged empty-handed.
In the hours following Jada's disappearance, cops scoured the area with ground crews, choppers, and even the K-9 unit. But after an extensive search of the surrounding area, cops emerged empty-handed.
The Hobart police continued to operate a joint investigation with the Gary Police Dept, along with the full support and expertise of the FBI.
Jada's mother, Melissa Swiontek, told authorities that she spoke to Jada on June 12th, four days before she vanished.
Jada's mother and father, Clarence Justice made a desperate plea for help in finding their precious daughter.
Police began to express doubt about Castillo's story. Initially, she was arrested as a person of interest, but was later released without being charged.
On Wednesday, June 24, investigators singled out the home of Jada's 18-year-old baby sitter as a place of interest in the case.
Searches thus far have included the wooded areas near Engelica Castillo's residence in the 3900 block of Hobart's Missouri Street.
Hobart Deputy Police Chief Jeff White said Castillo, who is also Jada's cousin, and her boyfriend, Tim Tkachik, had not been working well with authorities.
"If I were in her shoes, I'd be a lot more cooperative with the police," White said.
Castillo could not be reached Wednesday for comment.
Gary police investigators have said that Castillo appeared under the influence of a substance when she spoke to police.
On Thursday, June 25, investigators found the small slain body of a 2-year-old and believe it to be that of Jada Justice. Two suspects were taken into custody.
Research Resources...
http://www.nwi.com
http://www.amw.com/missing_children/brief.cfm?id=66317
UPDATES
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07-14-09
Jada's Dad Wants Custody
Clarence Justice is seeking custody of his two sons ages six and one. Justice said he and his wife can provide a safe home for the boys, ages 6 and 1, who are his children with Jada's mother, Melissa Swiontek.
Justice, who was never married to Swiontek, said he took care of Jada and her two brothers on alternate weekends and hopes to gain full custody of the boys at an emergency hearing Wednesday in Porter County Juvenile Court.
"I just feel my boys are safer in my arms than with anybody else," Clarence Justice said. "I'm working steady, they have a stay-at-home stepmom to look after them."
Trial Date Set
The trial of Engelica Castillo, 18, is set to begin on December 7th.
The Hobart woman is charged with murder, neglect of a dependent, battery and false informing. Castillo and her boyfriend Timothy Tkachik are both charged in the June 13th murder of Jada Justice.
Read resource details...
http://www.post-trib.com/news/1664104,jada.article
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6913179
http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/jada.justice.gary.2.1083366.html
07-07-09
Jada Justice laid to rest.
Mourners recall Jada with love at her funeral.
On Friday afternoon, 2-year-old Jada Justice was laid to rest and remembered by a crowd of about 300 mourners. Pink and white balloons and teddy bears surrounded the grounds at Jada’s outdoor funeral.
At the outdoor funeral at Edmonds and Evans Funeral Home, Jada's father, Clarence Justice of Hammond, Ind., said his daughter provided "two years of nothing but love."
The Portage, Ind., toddler was buried in a small, white casket at Heritage Cemetery, next to the funeral home.
"She gave me the strength to start loving again," her father said after the burial service.
Her mother, Melissa Swiontek, said of the funeral service, “It’s beautiful. I’m glad a lot of people came and showed support.”
Reported missing last month in a case that gripped the region, Jada was found dead after a massive search effort in which her face was splashed across fliers and on television screens.
Jada’s cousin and babysitter, Engelica Castillo, 18, reported her missing on June 16 and her body was found June 25 near Otis, Indiana. Jada's mother had left her in Castillo's care on June 8, when she left on an out of town trip.
Castillo’s boyfriend, Tim Tkachik, 24, told authorities he helped her dispose of Jada’s body after Castillo had beat the girl about the head, which eventually killed her.
The coroner confirmed Jada had suffered multiple skull fractures
On Monday, both Castillo and Tkachik pleaded not guilty to charges of neglecting, battering, and murdering Jada. Last week prosecutors announced they may seek the death penalty against the two defendants.
Resources...
http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/jada.justice.2.1071553.html
http://www.examiner.com/x-1168-Crime-Examiner~y2009m7d4-Indiana-toddler-Jada-Justice-laid-to-rest
06-26-09
Body Found
Jada Justice, 2, was reported missing on June 16, after her 18-year-old babysitting cousin, Engelica Castillo, told police she left the toddler in her car while she went to buy a gallon of milk and some cigarettes from a gas station on Ridge Road in Gary. When she returned, the girl was gone.
A young body was found in rural northern Indiana, Thursday, June 25, and Lake County Prosecutor, Bernard Carter, said he's quite certain that the body is that of Jada Justice.
"We have reason to believe that we have recovered the body of Jada Justice but we do not know from forensic standpoint," Carter said. "We feel very comfortable that we do, in fact, have Jada Justice."
Carter said two people are in custody in relation to the murder investigation into the toddler's June 16 disappearance. He would not confirm the identities of those in custody, saying it was still an active investigation.
However, other sources with knowledge of the investigation said Thursday that the baby sitter Engelica Castillo and her boyfriend Tim Tkachik were arrested at a rural Porter County residence near Valparaiso Wednesday night in connection with the case.
Carter said charges are expected to filed in the case Friday.
An autopsy is, also, scheduled for Friday.
Authorities believe Tkachik burned his face when he tried to burn Jada's dead body, a source close to the investigation said. Mug shots released by authorities clearly show blistered and burn-damaged skin on Tkachik's face.
The source said Jada did not die of those burns, and authorities believe Jada may have died two weeks ago Saturday, several days before Castillo reported the toddler's disappearance.
Castillo's mother, Rita Rincon, denied police criticism that Castillo has been uncooperative with authorities in the investigation.
Read resource details...
http://www.nwi.com/news/jada_justice/
http://www.wsbt.com/news/regional/49119587.html
http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2009/06/25/updates/breaking_news/doc4a43a1384f183585438698.txt
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