Damakia Phinizee Missing 10/07 Verona, MS

[Faith]

New Attempts to Solve Missing Verona Woman's Case

It's a case that has law enforcement scratching their heads.

Damakia Phinizee has been missing for nearly six months, but now investigators are setting up a new approach that could help in the case.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office along with the Verona Police have put up a digital billboard to further spread the word about Phinizee's disappearance.

Sheriff Jim Johnson hopes the new sign located at the intersection of Gloster and Main Streets in Tupelo will be a positive key into getting more clues about the disappearance of the 27 year old.

Phinizee was reported missing in October of 2007.

She was last seen at the Filmore Center in Tupelo where she worked as a security officer.

http://wtva.com/cgi/display2.pl?view=news_story-1

[Faith]

Search continues for Verona woman

3/27/2008 7:06:00 AM
Daily Journal


BY DANZA JOHNSON
Daily Journal

TUPELO - Police hope that the digital billboard at Crosstown can help solve a 5-month-old missing person's case.

Verona resident Damakia Phinizee, 26, was first reported missing in October. Even though Verona police said they had very little to go on when the case began, time has only made the trail colder. So Lee County Sheriff Jim Johnson and Interim Verona Police Chief J.B. Long thought it'd be a good idea to get her picture out to the public in a big way.

"The investigation is going very slow and we've brought in the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations and the Sheriff's Department to help us," said Long. "We have just ran cold on leads, so we felt if we could get her picture out to more people we may get someone who knows something to help us out.

"This has been going on for five months and this woman just didn't disappear, but we have to have help in finding out what happened to her."

Johnson, who said his department is working as backup for Verona, said the digital billboard can be a great tool in these types of cases.

"The case is at a dead still right now and this billboard can help to give it some life," said Johnson. "The more people that can see her picture and know about it, the more chance we'll have someone to come in with information."

Long said the case is being treated as a missing persons case and not a criminal investigation.

Phinizee, a mother of three, was a security guard at the Fillmore Center in Tupelo, the alternative school. Her sister reported her missing Oct. 12 after she didn't hear from her. She was last seen in her red Pontiac Grand Am dropping someone off at the center.

If you have any information about her whereabouts, call the Verona Police Department at 566-2215 or the Lee county Sheriff's Department at 841-9040.

http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=270539&pub=1&div=News

[Faith]

I heard about this case tonight on my local news. They showed a picture of Damakia but it's not on their website. I emailed them and hopefully they will forward the photo to me.

[Nut44x4]

Did you ever receive a photo? This woman is getting -0- attention in the news and on boards. A google of her is nearly nothing :(

[Faith]

Did you ever receive a photo? This woman is getting -0- attention in the news and on boards. A google of her is nearly nothing :(

They never got back to me. I will call tomorrow and see if she has been located or if there is anything new. I was in Tupelo and saw the billboard about a week and a half ago.

[Faith]

Missing Verona woman's mom wants answers

11/21/2007 8:11:49 AM
Danza Johnson


DANZA JOHNSON
Daily Journal

TUPELO - Charlene Dillard's daughter Demakia Phinizee has been missing for more than a month and Dillard said police don't seem to have a clue as to what happened to her.

Dillard said Verona Police Chief Chris Barnett has been very cooperative with the family about the investigation into her daughter's disappearance but said they don't seem to have any information about the case.

Phinizee, 26, a mother of three, was a security guard at the Filmore Center in Tupelo, which is the alternative school. Her sister reported her missing Oct. 12 after she didn't hear from her. Barnett said she was last seen in her red Pontiac Grand Am dropping someone off at the center.

Dillard said answers have been hard to find about her daughter's disappearance.

"I talk to the police almost every day," said Dillard. "They tell me the same thing every day, We don't have any new information.' No one can tell me anything about where my daughter is. That's hard for me to swallow."

Barnett said he sympathizes with the family, but cases like this are difficult to solve.

"That family has to be going through a lot right now," said Barnett. "I wish I had some news to tell them, but I don't. As of now we have to treat this like a missing person and not a homicide. We can't just say it's a homicide with no way to prove that."

Barnett said they don't have any suspects in Phinizee's disappearance.

Dillard said she knows her daughter never would have abandoned her children.

"She loved those kids," said Dillard. "She lived for them. Someone needs to let me know where my daughter is. I'm tired of sitting up at night and wondering where she is and if she's OK. No mother should have to go through that."

http://www.djournal.com/pages/archive.asp?ID=258977

[Grande]

http://i28.tinypic.com/120pgci.jpg

http://www.nampn.org/cases/phinizee_demakia.html

[Faith]

Did you ever receive a photo? This woman is getting -0- attention in the news and on boards. A google of her is nearly nothing :(

I am waiting on a call from the Chief in Verona. I spoke to the Sheriff's Dept in Lee Co., they said they believed she was still missing but I had to contact Verona. I will post when he returns my call.

[Faith]

http://i28.tinypic.com/120pgci.jpg

http://www.nampn.org/cases/phinizee_demakia.html

Thanks Grande, I saw that pic on TV but was unable to locate it. The Sheriff Dept said the billboard was still up the last he was out that way last week.

[Grande]

Details of Disappearance

Demakia Phinizee was reported missing on Friday, October 12, 2007. She was last seen around noon on the 12th, at her place of employment. Phinizee's red Pontiac Grand Am (2 door) was recovered later that evening at Warfield Apartments on the 2600 block of Jackson Street in Tupelo. At that time witnesses observed the vehicle enter the apartment complex at a high rate of speed. The vehicle was being driven by a black man, wearing a white tee-shirt and blue jeans. The driver exited the vehicle and ran behind he apartments.

http://www.nampn.org/cases/phinizee_demakia.html

[Grande]

Thanks Grande, I saw that pic on TV but was unable to locate it. The Sheriff Dept said the billboard was still up the last he was out that way last week.

NP. Thanks for checking on that.

[Grande]

http://i29.tinypic.com/t9a8f6.jpg

[Grande]

http://i32.tinypic.com/2z8uwl0.jpg

[Grande]

http://i27.tinypic.com/2yocs2b.jpg

[Grande]

http://i26.tinypic.com/99lzba.jpg

[Faith]

I talked with the Chief for a long time. He says there have been no new leads in Demakia's case. The billboard with her picture runs every 15 minutes in Tupelo. (close to Verona). He said, he would like other organizations like Fox, Cnn, etc to get involved but he needs help in doing this.

I told him about TES and he asked me to send him the information and he will forward it onto the family.

[Grande]

I talked with the Chief for a long time. He says there have been no new leads in Demakia's case. The billboard with her picture runs every 15 minutes in Tupelo. (close to Verona). He said, he would like other organizations like Fox, Cnn, etc to get involved but he needs help in doing this.

I told him about TES and he asked me to send him the information and he will forward it onto the family.

GREAT NEWS!

[packy]

This is good, Thank you, Faith. We sometimes assume they know about these organizations when they don't.

[Grande]

I wonder if they questioned everyone at that Warfield Apartment complex on Jackson St..

[Faith]

I wonder if they questioned everyone at that Warfield Apartment complex on Jackson St..

I would surely hope so. I have invited the Chief to join us.

[Grande]

I would surely hope so. I have invited the Chief to join us.

Good deal, I would love to have the opportunity to speak with him.

[Faith]

This is good, Thank you, Faith. We sometimes assume they know about these organizations when they don't.

You're very welcome, no thanks needed though, I'm happy to help in any way I can.

[Breezy]

This is the first I have heard about this young lady.

[just42day97]

You're very welcome, no thanks needed though, I'm happy to help in any way I can.

Faith...
I am a local here in Tupelo, and also a member of TES...is there a private message here in this forum? I would like to talk to you concerning this case..

Thanks

[Pauli]

I'm not Faith, but I can answer your question.. to pm someone click on their name above their avatar.. it will open a drop down box.. just click on send private message..

welcome to the board.

[just42day97]

I'm not Faith, but I can answer your question.. to pm someone click on their name above their avatar.. it will open a drop down box.. just click on send private message..

welcome to the board.

Thanks for the info and thanks for the welcome!

[Audie]

I talked with the Chief for a long time. He says there have been no new leads in Demakia's case. The billboard with her picture runs every 15 minutes in Tupelo. (close to Verona). He said, he would like other organizations like Fox, Cnn, etc to get involved but he needs help in doing this.

I told him about TES and he asked me to send him the information and he will forward it onto the family.Faith, did you ever hear back from TES?

<Hi just42day .. I'm back from you know where .. btw, I saw a pic of you in Louisiana, wafb or something like that>

[TigressPen]

Faith, did you ever hear back from TES?

<Hi just42day .. I'm back from you know where .. btw, I saw a pic of you in Louisiana, wafb or something like that>


I hope TES can help with this case... this family need to know where Demakia is. :1222423:


Audie, TES was recently in Holden, La looking for Barbara Blount. She went missing earlier this month.

[just42day97]

Faith, did you ever hear back from TES?

<Hi just42day .. I'm back from you know where .. btw, I saw a pic of you in Louisiana, wafb or something like that>

Yep Audie...I know you just got back from " you know where"..lol and I know you don't ever wanna go back!...hahah
I wished something more could be done for Damakia...This girl is from my hometown!...

[Faith]

Faith, did you ever hear back from TES?

<Hi just42day .. I'm back from you know where .. btw, I saw a pic of you in Louisiana, wafb or something like that>

I didn't contact TES. I gave the chief all the information and he promised to give it to the family.

[Faith]

just42day97, Have you tried to get in touch with the Chief by phone?

[Faith]

Woman still missing after seven months

7/18/2008 5:21:32 AM
Daily Journal


BY DANZA JOHNSON
Daily Journal

VERONA - Its been seven months and still no answers for what happened to Damakia Phinizee.

Phinizee, 26, of Verona, was reported missing Oct. 12 after she failed to pick up her children from her sister's home. She was last seen in her red Pontiac Grand Am after dropping a friend off at the Filmore Center, Tupelo's alternative school.

Police found Phinizee's car on West Jackson Street, but there was no sign of her.

Since she first went missing, J.B. Long has replaced Chris Barnett as Verona police chief, a switch that has complicated solving the mystery.

"When I came into office in January the case was already going on," said Long. "Damakia was already missing and the trail was already cold. I came in on a cold case and that makes it more difficult for me to try to get solved."

That's why Long said he turned the investigation over to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations.

"We just don't have the manpower, resources or training to deal with a case like this," he explained.

An MBI investigator said the case will remain open until Phinizee is found. The investigator said the case is still being treated like a missing person case and not a crime.

As time passes, solving the case could be more difficult.

Catherine Dales, a member of the National Association of Investigative Specialists, said it is often hard to find missing people.

Dales said police databases have the name of the missing person, Social Security number, credit card information and other personal identifiers. But if no paper trails pop up, then there's not much police can do.

"If she doesn't have a paper trail like a credit card use or something like that, then it's going to be hard to find a missing person," said Dale. "They will either have to find a body or find a person alive before they can close their case. Missing person's cases are difficult because police can't say if a crime has been committed or not. It turns into a wait and see."

Long said he is more than willing to wait.

"We are not going to give up on this case," said Long. "We're just going to need a little luck in solving it, but we are not giving up."

http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=276288&pub=1&div=News

[annalyzer]

Can't find any updates.

[Faith]

http://crimestoppersnems.com/images/demakiaphinizeefamily.jpg


http://mcgruff.web.officelive.com/images/DemakiaPhinizee4.jpg

http://crimestoppersnems.com/phinizee.aspx

[MV5]

Hello all.

It will be 2 years ago exactly in 4 days that Damakia disappeared.

I am a police officer here in Verona. I did not work here two years ago when she disappeared, but I am interested in finding out what happened.

After looking into her case and seeing the interest and depth of these situations I can see that the pain is endless and profound.

I agree that it is past time that she is found. :innocent0001:

I am open to questions and comments form those that may want to speak up and share their thoughts, and especially those with new information.

I would like to invite any one who has information to contact the MBI, Lee County Sheriff office, Crimestoppers and/or us at the Verona Police Department.

[Roamer]

Thank you so much for posting, MV5.

We are praying that she be returned to her family, and would like to thank you all for your work in trying to find her.

[Faith]

Welcome to HFTM, MV5. I am very happy you joined us.This case has weighed heavy on my heart. Damakia needs to be brought home.

She has 3 children and a family that needs closure.

I would love for the family to contact Texas Equusearch. I spoke to the Chief in Verona about this but she's never been listed on their site. If you are not familiar with them, here is their site. http://www.texasequusearch.org/
Do you know if there have been any searches of wooded areas for her?

[MV5]

There may have been a search from her home on Ida Street in the days after her disappearance in which K9 tracking dogs traced her scent from the house through the woods ending at the edge of a sewage Lagoon not far from the house. I my self have walked around in this area just this week and with all the rain we have had lately I was limited as to what I was able to do.

However I have not confirmed that dogs were actually used at all. I am still looking to confirm.

I would like to lay out and evaluate all available information and rule out or authenticate the facts. This will take cooperation with the investigators in the MBI and Lee County Sheriff's Office and locals who were witness to some of the stories I have learned.

[Faith]

There may have been a search from her home on Ida Street in the days after her disappearance in which K9 tracking dogs traced her scent from the house through the woods ending at the edge of a sewage Lagoon not far from the house. I my self have walked around in this area just this week and with all the rain we have had lately I was limited as to what I was able to do.

However I have not confirmed that dogs were actually used at all. I am still looking to confirm.

I would like to lay out and evaluate all available information and rule out or authenticate the facts. This will take cooperation with the investigators in the MBI and Lee County Sheriff's Office and locals who were witness to some of the stories I have learned.

I hope you are able to find Damakia and bring her home. I appreciate your interest in her case. My prayers are with her family. I can't imagine not knowing where my loved one is.

[texanne]

So happy to see that someone is not content just to let her disappearance go cold. Thank you MVS. I pray that someone who knows something will come forward.