VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB) - Tareaha Jones left Kentucky looking for a fresh start, first settling in Columbus, Georgia before making her way to Valdosta. But eight years ago, she vanished, and her family has been searching for answers ever since.

Tareaha Jones was a 34-year-old mother of three when she disappeared in April 2018.

Listen to Tareaha’s case on Episode 1, Season 2 of Pining here:

The disappearance

After leaving Kentucky, Tareaha stayed with Washington and her ex-husband in Columbus. She later moved to Tifton before coming to Valdosta.

Even though she struggled with addiction, one thing was clear to her family — she would not just up and leave.

“No matter what’s going in Tareaha’s life, she always makes sure that she is in contact with someone. So for her to just go off the grid is not the norm,” Washington said.

Social media messages flooded in that made Washington contact the Valdosta Police Department (VPD). Investigators say they believe Tareaha’s home on Riverlane in Valdosta was the last place she was seen. Officials say it appears that Jones left in a hurry.

Washington and Jones‘ both received messages claiming Tareaha’s body was in a ditch in Valdosta or Tifton, then additional messages followed alluding to what led up to Tareaha’s disappearance. The family hired a private investigator in Kentucky, but the search yielded no results.

The investigation

It wasn’t until July 2018 that investigators grew increasingly suspicious, when the moment they were waiting for Tareaha Jones to walk into the Social Security office or her bank to present her identification to resume her Supplemental Security Income (SSI), but she never came.

“We kind of put a pause on stuff so to speak so that she would have to go in person to restart finances coming out so that she could use them,” Sergeant Terry Hines said. “Knowing that her only source of income was these finances, we were hoping that by doing this, that would make her come forward. We could at least be able to check on her wellbeing.”

Hines said VPD cleared all credible leads.

“I invited all those persons who had any kind of information that they could remain anonymous. Firsthand information rather than hearsay,” Hines said. “Nobody has reached out to us at the police department with any credible information regarding the whereabouts of Ms. Jones.”

The search continues

Now, eight years later, Tareaha’s family is forced to celebrate her birthday each year without her, watch her children grow and keep searching for answers from miles away.

Washington keeps a notebook with details about her nieces disappearance. She also registered Tareaha in the NamUs database and other databases across the state and country.

“We always hope that she knows we didn’t stop looking for her, that she knows that somebody out there cares,” Washington said.

Tareaha’s mother said the family needs closure.

“We need some closure, Brittanye. We really do because it’s hard. Its really hard... it is,” Jones said.

If you have any information that could help locate Tareaha Jones, you are urged to contact Valdosta Police Department at 229-293-3103.

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