In August 2002, seven-month-old Jersey Arnett disappeared from St. Ignace, Michigan, while in the care of her mother, Mindy Lou Arnett. Jersey had been living with Mindy’s sister in Flint after child-protection authorities removed the infant from Mindy’s custody. On August 14, Mindy visited Jersey; when the sister and brother-in-law returned from dinner that evening, both mother and baby were gone.

Mindy’s 1992 Honda Civic Del Sol was found abandoned near the middle of the Mackinac Bridge about 2:00 a.m. on August 15. Inside were Jersey’s empty car seat, a diaper bag, a half-empty baby bottle, and Mindy’s purse and keys. A motorist had reported seeing a similar vehicle stopped on the bridge with a woman reaching into the rear door. Investigators, noting Mindy’s prior suicide attempt and threats to harm herself and her daughter, concluded Mindy likely went over the side of the bridge with Jersey. An extensive sonar and dive search was conducted but the bodies were not recovered and the case remains unresolved.

Did anyone in the community have contact with Mindy or Jersey in the days before August 14?