AmyB80
February 16th, 2010, 12:21 PM
http://i45.tinypic.com/eju8ms.jpg
http://www.tallahassee.com/article/201002160200/NEWS0102/2160311
Danielle Brown's driver's license and cell phone were found last weekend on a roadside in Beachton, Ga., just across the state line, Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell said.But there has been no sight of the 21-year-old Tallahassee woman, who has been missing since Feb. 5.
Campbell held a news conference Monday where he said more than 100 law-enforcement officers and volunteers searched for Brown over the weekend.
A "random citizen" not affiliated with the search found the driver's license and a volunteer with the Tallahassee Fire Department found the cell phone in close proximity to the license on Old Beachton Road.
Thomas County Sheriff R. Carlton Powell said that the license "was not a whole driver's license. It was a partial part of it but it was enough to identify (Brown)."
Brown's ex-boyfriend, 35-year-old Elijah James, is facing charges of grand theft auto and arson. He remains in the Leon County Jail.
In other new developments, Campbell said James was seen driving alone in the Leon County community of Bradfordville at about 5:30 a.m. on Feb. 6. He stopped at a convenience store where he bought a case of beer. Later that day, he was seen driving Brown's car in Pavo, Ga., about 50 miles from Bradfordville.
During the news conference, Campbell was asked by a journalist with a lengthy beard: What are the odds that Brown is still alive?
"About as good that you're going to shave this afternoon," Campbell said. Then Campbell added, "The longer it takes that there's no contact with anybody, the more bleak it appears."
Brown was known to call family members every day, Campbell said. She spoke with a friend on Feb. 5 about 11:35 p.m. on her cell phone.
Brown told the friend that she was dropping James off at his mother's property on 7080 King Post Way in eastern Leon County. Campbell said it's important to note that Brown and James were arguing during that time.
On Feb. 8, Brown's car was found at the Pavo city dump with the license plate and at least one vehicle identification number removed. The car had been doused with accelerant to burn the inside of the car, Pavo Police Chief Sydney Turner said. Investigators were able to track the car to Brown from a serial number in the trunk.
"While James has been charged with theft and arson of Brown's vehicle, the question of where Danielle is and what happened to her remains under investigation," Campbell said.
Brown's family was in the lobby of the Leon County Sheriff's Office during the news conference. Brown's sister, Nicole Sheffield, 27, later answered questions. She said the family is "not well."
"We're just dealing moment by moment, day by day," she said.
She added her parents are "doing the best they can."
She encourages anyone who may know details to come forward.
"It could only help toward the ultimate goal of finding my sister," she said.
Deputies plan to expand the search to northeast Leon County and south Georgia today, LCSO spokesman Sgt. Tony Drzewiecki said.
"James' stealing Danielle's vehicle and setting it on fire in Georgia lead us to suspect that he may also be involved with her disappearance," Campbell said. "You do not necessarily have to find a body to be able to charge with criminal homicide."
http://www.tallahassee.com/article/201002160200/NEWS0102/2160311
Danielle Brown's driver's license and cell phone were found last weekend on a roadside in Beachton, Ga., just across the state line, Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell said.But there has been no sight of the 21-year-old Tallahassee woman, who has been missing since Feb. 5.
Campbell held a news conference Monday where he said more than 100 law-enforcement officers and volunteers searched for Brown over the weekend.
A "random citizen" not affiliated with the search found the driver's license and a volunteer with the Tallahassee Fire Department found the cell phone in close proximity to the license on Old Beachton Road.
Thomas County Sheriff R. Carlton Powell said that the license "was not a whole driver's license. It was a partial part of it but it was enough to identify (Brown)."
Brown's ex-boyfriend, 35-year-old Elijah James, is facing charges of grand theft auto and arson. He remains in the Leon County Jail.
In other new developments, Campbell said James was seen driving alone in the Leon County community of Bradfordville at about 5:30 a.m. on Feb. 6. He stopped at a convenience store where he bought a case of beer. Later that day, he was seen driving Brown's car in Pavo, Ga., about 50 miles from Bradfordville.
During the news conference, Campbell was asked by a journalist with a lengthy beard: What are the odds that Brown is still alive?
"About as good that you're going to shave this afternoon," Campbell said. Then Campbell added, "The longer it takes that there's no contact with anybody, the more bleak it appears."
Brown was known to call family members every day, Campbell said. She spoke with a friend on Feb. 5 about 11:35 p.m. on her cell phone.
Brown told the friend that she was dropping James off at his mother's property on 7080 King Post Way in eastern Leon County. Campbell said it's important to note that Brown and James were arguing during that time.
On Feb. 8, Brown's car was found at the Pavo city dump with the license plate and at least one vehicle identification number removed. The car had been doused with accelerant to burn the inside of the car, Pavo Police Chief Sydney Turner said. Investigators were able to track the car to Brown from a serial number in the trunk.
"While James has been charged with theft and arson of Brown's vehicle, the question of where Danielle is and what happened to her remains under investigation," Campbell said.
Brown's family was in the lobby of the Leon County Sheriff's Office during the news conference. Brown's sister, Nicole Sheffield, 27, later answered questions. She said the family is "not well."
"We're just dealing moment by moment, day by day," she said.
She added her parents are "doing the best they can."
She encourages anyone who may know details to come forward.
"It could only help toward the ultimate goal of finding my sister," she said.
Deputies plan to expand the search to northeast Leon County and south Georgia today, LCSO spokesman Sgt. Tony Drzewiecki said.
"James' stealing Danielle's vehicle and setting it on fire in Georgia lead us to suspect that he may also be involved with her disappearance," Campbell said. "You do not necessarily have to find a body to be able to charge with criminal homicide."