Missing Mississippi Mother and 3-Year-Old Daughter Found Dead in Alabama
JACKSON, Miss. — A tragic search has ended in heartbreak after a Mississippi mother and her 3-year-old daughter were found dead in Alabama, more than 100 miles from their home in Jackson.
Disappearance Reported
Authorities say Shardee McGill, 32, and her daughter Janae left their northeast Jackson home on the night of September 21 in Shardee’s Chevrolet Equinox and never returned. Her husband, Johnathan McGill, reported them missing the following day.
Police entered their information into the National Crime Information Center database and issued alerts through media and social platforms, though an Amber Alert was not activated. Interim Jackson Police Chief Tyree Jones explained that the case did not meet criteria for a custodial kidnapping.
Bodies Found in Alabama
On Thursday, September 25, multiple agencies, including the FBI, searched near the Tombigbee River in Epes, Alabama, about 130 miles from Jackson. That afternoon, Shardee’s body was discovered in a shallow body of water.
The next day, search teams located Janae’s body nearby, bringing the desperate hunt to a devastating close. The Sumter County coroner confirmed both discoveries, and local authorities canceled Janae’s missing child alert soon after.
Investigation and Suspicious Circumstances
Officials say the deaths are being treated as suspicious, though the causes have not yet been released pending autopsies.
Chief Jones confirmed that Johnathan McGill traveled to Alabama during the search and was briefly detained for questioning. He was later released and has not been charged.
“At this particular time, it’s too early to say who’s involved, nor do we have any type of suspect information,” Jones said during a Friday press conference.
Community Shock
News of the deaths has shaken Jackson and surrounding communities. Vigils are being planned to honor the lives of Shardee and Janae, with many calling for answers about what happened in the days between their disappearance and discovery.
Do you think Mississippi law enforcement should expand the criteria for Amber Alerts to include more missing adult and child cases like this? Share your views in the comments on SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
