ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Six years after Jessica Vanzant Dietzel disappeared, her family is still searching for answers, and investigators say the case remains open.

Jessica was last seen on February 18, 2020, in Albany. According to previous reporting, she sent a Facebook message that night and was later captured on surveillance video at a local gas station. Her family reported her missing on March 2, 2020.

Now, six years later, there have been no arrests and no confirmed sightings.

The Albany Police Department has previously said the investigation remains active but has not publicly announced any major developments. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has also assisted in the case over the years.

Early in the investigation, authorities identified a person of interest. That individual has never been charged in connection to Jessica’s disappearance.

Despite media coverage, community searches, and national attention through podcasts and social media campaigns, the case has stalled publicly.

Jessica’s mother says she refuses to think of her daughter in the past tense. Her cousin says the pain has not lessened with time.

“She was my best friend,” her cousin said.

Family members say anniversaries are especially difficult, serving as a reminder of the years missed birthdays, holidays, milestones all without answers.

Six years later, Jessica Dietzel’s disappearance remains unsolved, and her family says they will not stop searching until they know what happened.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Albany Police Department or submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook and X (Twitter). For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Copyright 2026 WALB. All rights reserved.