Vigil for Jenna Marks One Year Since Disappearance

It’s been 16 months since the disappearance of Jenna Van Gelderen, who would be 26 years old now. Her parents, Roseanne and Leon, and their adult son, Will, live each day without answers. They have not been informed of any new leads in the case.

Jenna was reported missing on Aug. 19, 2017. She was house-sitting at her parents’ home in Druid Hills while her parents were vacationing in Canada. Her brother came home to find Jenna’s 2010 blue Mazda gone, the house locked, the TV on and the cat not fed.

Since the disappearance, “the DeKalb County Police Department has conducted an extensive investigation into her whereabouts,” said Major J.A. Lewis, who is chief of staff. “Several ground searches have been conducted in metro Atlanta, with plans to conduct additional searches with the family on Jan. 3,” he said.

“Also, a number of search warrants and subpoenas have been executed, in addition to numerous interviews. Additionally, detectives are working with state agencies and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and continue to follow up on any leads that come into the police department in hopes of uncovering potential clues into Ms. Van Gelderen’s whereabouts.”

On Aug. 19, the family held a vigil at Congregation Shearith Israel to mark the one-year anniversary of Jenna’s disappearance and around 100 people attended. “We have such support between our friends and family and synagogue and Jewish community and beyond,” Roseanne Glick said.

At the vigil, both parents made speeches at the bimah and expressed their gratitude to the community for its support in the search for their daughter.

Rabbi Ari Kaiman led the service and Rev. Markel Hutchins led a prayer.

DeKalb County Police Chief James W. Conroy addressed the community too. “DeKalb county police department stays committed to finding Jenna and we will exhaust every lead until she is found and until we find and determine the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.”

So far, the Van Gelderens have not been confident in that search, they said.

They think about Jenna every day, Glick said. “Jenna is an active part of our daily life — we just don’t have her.”

The Van Gelderens are offering a $25,000 reward for Jenna’s safe return and Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta has a reward for information set at the same amount.

Crime Stoppers tip line: 404-577-8477

Dekalb County Police Chief: 770-724-7440

For more information about the search, Facebook.com/HelpFindJennaVG

View the original story here.