MS MS - Lester Jones, 26, Starkville, 11 Jan 2010

Starkville police are seeking information on the whereabouts of a missing Mississippi State graduate student who has not had any contact with his family for more than two weeks.

Lester R. Jones Jr., 26, was last seen in person by his brother early in the morning of Jan. 11 at his family’s home in Tupelo, where he had stopped briefly en route back to Starkville from Tunica, said Police Department Detective Landon Stamps on Monday.

That night, he was due to meet some fraternity brothers and other friends in Jackson, but never arrived, though a security camera at a Sprint Mart store in Flowood captured his image at 10:18 p.m., Stamps said. No one has seen or heard from Jones since then, Stamps said. Jones did speak with his friends by phone that evening.

His cellular phone was left at the convenience store, was found by another customer and turned in to the store staff. His family retrieved the phone a week ago and found that Jones’ father, who lives in California, had left him a voice mail message, Stamps said.

His father, however, has not spoken with Jones, nor has Jones’ girlfriend nor his roommate at the home the share on Collegeview Street, Stamps said.
“We have no reason to suspect that there is any foul play involved at this time,” said Stamps. “We just have no information on his whereabouts since he was seen at the convenience store in Flowood. He’s not in any trouble; we and his family just want to know he’s okay.”

Jones is a graduate student at Mississippi State University who is enrolled in a single course for the spring semester, Stamps said. He has not been to class since Jan. 11, Stamps added.

Jones recently purchased a blue 2002 Ford Expedition sport utility vehicle, but it has not been seen since Jan. 11, Stamps said. The Expedition may have the license tag “KTW 714,” Stamps said.

Anyone who has made contact with Jones or seen him or his vehicle is encouraged to call Stamps at the Police Department at 323-4131 or any other law enforcement agency.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 27 January 2010 )

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Lester Jones was a biomedical engineering medical student at Mississippi State University. While only four months away from obtaining his masters he took a trip during to Jackson, MS to support his friend, whose girlfriend was stabbed to death in a violent robbery.

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Quill said:

I'm seeing this for the first time. I am local. Why, oh why do I not already know about this? Our news media is usually pretty good about publicizing missing persons.

I'm confused about some details though. In one article it states his family was in Tupelo and another says he was from Flowood, the area he was last seen in (Sprintmart). Which is it? Tupelo is quite a ways from Flowood, just under a three hour drive.

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capoly said:

Lester resided in Starkville, MS....per his family he had visited his family in Tupelo the morning of Jan 11th. It is not clear if he spent the day in Tupelo as next information that is public re his whereabouts is the 10+PM video of his being at gas station/Mart in Flowood. It did not appear that he got gas...used the bathroom only. Not sure how much gas such a big vehicle uses but would think...if Tupelo is a near 3 hour drive...such a big car would have needed gas??

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capoly said:

Not quite organized here.....remembered that after seeing locations involved on map...did think it was likely he went to his home in Starkville after visiting with family. And then on to Jackson.

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