Where is Jaisle?
This worksheet is used as a platform to conduct an interview with Jaisle's father
Jaisle Elizabeth Thomas is a 17 year old girl who disappeared in Richmond, Virginia on April 12, 1998. On the day of April 12, the young teenager notified her family that she was going to the University of Richmond to work on an AP assignment. Instead of arriving at the campus, she drove to the Willey Bridge and was described, as by eyewitnesses that Sunday, as "walking away" from her vehicle. The car was reported to be abandoned on the bridge at 3:20 PM that day, with officers arriving at 4:00 PM to assess the situation. At about 10:00PM, her family became increasingly worried as they expected her to be back from her shift at Ukrop.
The keys to her car were missing, but her Bible, wallet, driver's license, some cash, her uniform for Ukrop's grocery store (a store she worked at), her paycheck, her camera, and her sneakers were found inside the car.
She was supposed to go on a trip to New York the following week as Easter holidays were taking place. She was also supposed to give an announcement to her church that Sunday.
Background[edit | edit source]
Jaisle E. Thomas was born in Brooklyn, New York on March 3, 1981 and was attending Tucker High School at the time of her disappearance. She was in the 11th grade. She was described as "religious", "intelligent", and "well-behaved".
2001 Letter by Rev. Dr. Thomas Ambalaveli V.[edit | edit source]
Rev. Dr. Thomas Ambalaveli V. is Jaisle's father. In a 2001 letter written to friends, he reviewed the case of her missing daughter.
Dr. Thomas noted that Mr. Stephen Vass arrived on scene and told the family that he was going to conduct a dog search in the area - which was never done, according to Dr. Thomas. The next day, officer Timothy Morris took over the case and was described as not taking the case "seriously" for its remainder. The local fire department conducted a search throughout the river, but found no leads.
Dr. Thomas denies that this is a "suicide" or "runaway" case and insists that this was a homicide/kidnapping case done by peers that were "angry/jealous" with her. He believes she is still alive (as of 2001).