A Mysterious Death in Grand Rapids: Jessica Bailey

 

An undated photo of Jessica Bailey, who was 19 at the time of her death
 

By Grand Rapids Anonymous
Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at 2:33:00 A.M. EDT

The police are being their usual secretive selves in this case. Does a 19-year-old just die behind an apartment building for no reason?
 

Man wanted in connection to death investigation in custody
Evan Dean and 24 Hour News 8 web staff
May 23, 2017, 1:45 p.m.
Updated: May 23, 2017, 6:13 p.m.
WOOD-TV

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A 30-year-old man has been taken into custody in connection to a death investigation following a search on Grand Rapids’ northeast side Tuesday.

Family members identified the woman found dead behind the Lake Forest Apartments complex on Monday as 19-year-old Jessica Bailey. Police said there are no signs of foul play and the man is not a suspect in her death. However, they wanted to find him because they said he took Bailey’s car from the scene.

[The “man” is a convict and parole absconder. The GRPD has refused to reveal his name, or conviction.]

The man, who is only being called a person of interest in the case, was seen around 12:20 p.m. Tuesday running behind the Arby’s in the 1200 block of Leonard Street NE. That sparked an all-out manhunt, which forced temporary lockdowns at some nearby schools, police said.

[Since “person of interest” is such a notorious euphemism for “suspect,” it has become a synonym for it. The GRPD lied, in denying that the “man” is a suspect. The only question is what crime or crimes of which he is suspected: Murder, Grand-Theft Auto, etc. They are awaiting a cause of death, before determining the charges.]

Two hours later, the man was found inside Bailey’s vehicle near Leonard Street and Ball Avenue NE, where he was taken into custody without incident.

GRPD Sgt. Terry Dixon said the man is also a parole absconder. Investigators are now trying to figure out what he knows about Bailey’s death.

“We believe [since he was found inside said vehicle, you KNOW] that he had taken the vehicle. He was in the vehicle and had taken it from the scene. But we are still looking into the specifics regarding whether he was there, what was his role, the whole thing,” Dixon said Tuesday afternoon.

Police have not yet released the name of the man taken into custody. They also haven’t said exactly how he knew Bailey — or why he was on parole in the first place.

24 Hour News 8 spoke with Bailey’s father Tuesday afternoon, who was heartbroken over the loss of his daughter. He said she was loving, caring and a talented violinist.

Investigators are awaiting toxicology results to determine exactly how Bailey died.

GRPD’s Major Case Team is investigating the incident.

GRA: Any pertinent info will be posted.

N.S.: Thank you.