The mother of missing Horizon Jones believes her 16-year-old daughter is in grave danger, possibly a victim of exploitation.
PASADENA, Texas — The mother of a missing 16-year-old Pasadena girl says she fears her daughter, who has been missing since early December, is in grave danger.
Casey Chappel believes someone is manipulating her daughter, Horizon Jones, and keeping her from returning home.
Chappel is working with private investigator Colman Ryan and said they have uncovered significant evidence suggesting Jones may be a victim of child exploitation.
That evidence was turned over to Houston police, but both Chappel and Ryan believe the authorities aren’t taking the case seriously.
“It’s just another case. Another runaway teen. That’s what it is to them,” Chappel said.
Chappel said it gets harder and harder for her to sleep at night.
“I’m trying, trying. It’s hard,” she said.
She believes her daughter left the home in Pasadena on her own voluntarily last year and is now in Houston. She is confident someone is keeping Jones from leaving.
“Manipulating her, yeah. Convincing her to stay where she’s at,” she said.
While the exact details of the evidence have not been disclosed, both Chappel and Ryan say it should be enough for authorities to take immediate action.
“Sickening. Disgusted. All I want to say is if I ever find her or whatever, whoever is responsible for it, I’m going to make sure they’re prosecuted. I’m not going to show no remorse,” she said.
They said this could be a case of child exploitation, but police aren’t moving.
“Giving me the runaround, telling me it could take weeks or months because there’s other kids in the same situation,” Chappel said.
Ryan feels the same way.
“Very substantial leads that I believe police should be able to move forward now. And that’s just not happening. And that’s frustrating,” he said.
Ryan, who has experience locating missing teens, warned that these situations can quickly become dangerous.
“They’re put in very dangerous environments, and as we know, bad things can happen. Quickly.”
When asked directly if he believes Jones is in danger, Ryan answered simply: “Yes.”
The case is being handled by HPD’s Internet Crimes Against Children Division. Detectives are actively investigating.