Daughter of Missing Woman Shenett Jacobs Frustrated Over Lack of Answers as Search Nears One Month

The daughter of missing woman Shenett Jacobs is expressing frustration over what she says has been a lack of communication and answers from investigators, as her mother remains missing nearly one month after she was last seen.

Jacobs disappeared on July 25 in the Brown’s Bay/Nonsuch Bay area. As of Wednesday, August 19, she has been missing for 25 days, despite several searches involving police, the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force, canine and drone units, volunteers, relatives and concerned citizens.

Her daughter, Raychelle Raeburn, took to social media Tuesday to speak publicly about the family’s concerns, saying she has spent approximately two weeks seeking updates on several areas she believes could assist the investigation.

Among them are whether immigration authorities have been contacted to determine if Jacobs may have left the country, surveillance footage from where she was last seen, possible footage from St. John’s following reports of sightings there, and more precise information about where her mother’s phone reportedly last pinged in the Mount Joy area.

Raeburn said she finally spoke with the officer overseeing the investigation Tuesday morning after what she described as about two weeks without direct communication.

According to her account, the conversation left her with more frustration than answers.

Raeburn alleged that when she raised the possibility of obtaining surveillance footage from St. John’s, the officer told her he worked at the Freetown Police Station and was unaware of footage in town. She questioned why contact could not be made with officers or other authorities in St. John’s to determine whether relevant footage exists.

She also claimed the conversation became tense, with the officer interrupting her and eventually indicating that he had someone in front of him and needed to end the call.

Another disagreement involved a statement investigators reportedly wanted Raeburn to provide. She disputed suggestions that she had delayed giving the statement, saying she had previously been told she would be advised when to come in.

Raeburn also raised questions about the Mount Joy searches, saying she wanted to know whether investigators had received a specific location from the telecommunications provider connected to her mother’s phone signal, rather than only a general indication of the area.

Two searches have already been conducted in Mount Joy, according to her account.

Her concerns come after a major search operation on August 4 involving members of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, its Canine and Drone Units, the Defence Force Drone Unit, Concerned Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, relatives, friends and other volunteers. Search efforts continued the following day.

Jacobs is approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall, brown in complexion, with black and grey hair. When she was last seen, she was reportedly wearing a yellow construction helmet, grey long-sleeved shirt, dark green trousers and grey Converse shoes.

Raeburn said she believes aspects of the investigation were mishandled from the beginning and expressed disappointment that she has had to publicly raise her concerns on social media.

Despite the frustration and uncertainty, she said she continues to pray for her mother’s safe return and thanked members of the public who have continued to support the family and inquire about the search.

For Jacobs’ family, however, the central question remains unanswered: 25 days after she disappeared, where is Shenett Jacobs?