Jake479
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MS MS - Daffany Tullos, 7, Jackson, 26 July 1988
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Moonwalker9
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Daffany Sherika Tullos was a normal 7 year old girl. She was last seen on 7/26/1988, she was living with her grandparents when she had an argument with her mother over fish sticks. She then left her home and has never been seen since. Daffany is an epileptic and required daily medicines to avoid having seizures and other symptoms. Daffany would suffer severe seizures followed by extreme headache after missing just a few days of her medication.
Daffany was last seen walking in her hometown of Jackson, Mississippi on July 26, 1988 in the 4400 block of Azalea Circle in North Jackson. Her mother lived on Bailey Ave. Daffany left her grandparents residence between 7-8 pm. She was last seen walking toward Northside Drive. It was uncharacteristic of her to stay out after dark. Daffanys biological father was ruled out as a suspect in her case, he's now deceased.
At the time of Daffanys dissapearance police were investigating allegations that her mother's boyfriend had sexually abused her in June of 1988. Daffanys mother shared twin boys with the man. Daffany had to an aunt that Earnest Lee Epps had touched her inappropriately while she was asleep. Epps denied any wrong doing. However he was arrested on July 9 and charged with sexual battery. At one point the Epps family offered the Tullos family 175 dollars to drop the complaint against him but they declined. He was released on the morning of July 26 the same day Daffany went missing. Despite the timing of his release police were unable to tie him to the childs dissapearance. Authorities got tips as far away as Michigan but they were never able to determine the child's fate. She would have started 2nd grade in Autumn of 1988.
The one wish that Daffanys 81 year old grandma Shirley Tullos has is that God will allow her to know in her lifetime what happened to her granddaughter. Even though it's been 30 years her family still has not given up hope of finding her. Last year her family thought they found her, because a woman they thought could be Daffany was about the same age she would be now, and her name is Dafany. She also bore a striking resemblance to the Tullos family. A search also produced no vital records of the woman's mother giving birth to the child. Their hopes were crushed after the woman and her mother met with Jackson police and the Tullos family. The woman and her mother provided a birth certificate proving she wasn't Daffany.
Daffanys aunt Sylvia Varnell said they shed some tears behind the mistaken identity. Saying that's the closest we have ever come to finding her. Shirley Tullos now lives in Spokane, Washington she said she just hopes someone will come through and tell her something, just not knowing is what bothers you. Shirley spent most of her life savings in effort to find Daffany.
Daffany dissapeared the same day as wealthy socialite Anne Laurie Herrin was kidnapped, Varnell and other family members believe that more police resources went toward searching for Herrin than Daffany. Herrins husband received a random demand but she was never found and has since been declared dead.
Varnell said some Jackson officer's worked tirelessly searching for Daffany. Former detective Edna Drake became like a family member. Drake, now security Chief at Tougaloo college, was a detective in the juvenile division of the Jackson police department, when Daffany was reported missing. Drake said she prays constantly that the family will have closure. She also said she thought the child would return home, it's like she walked off the face of the Earth. Drake also said the police followed up on every lead, police even pursued a lead claiming the child was living in New Orleans, and another that she was living with relatives in Michigan. Sadly none of those leads have panned out.
Daffanys mother and her then boyfriend were investigated, both took and passed polygraph exams Drake said. However some family members are not convinced that Epps or someone he was associated with didn't play a role in Daffanys dissapearance. Epps is now deceased. Daffany told her childhood friend who is also her cousin that Epps had molested her. That's the last thing Daffany told Tiffany Taylor. Taylor said Daffany was her best friend. Dake said law enforcement worked beyond paid hours on the case in hopes of finding the little girl.
Daffanys aunt and other family members had hopes of gathering at the last place Daffany knew as home on Azalea Drive for the 30th anniversary of her dissapearance, to release balloons in honor of Daffanys dissapearance if the current occupants allow them to do so.
If you have any information about Daffany Tullos whereabouts contact the Jackson police department (601) 960-1234
Daffany Sherika Tullos Last seen on : 07/26/1988 D O.B : 11/02/1980 3'7 55lbs Black female Black hair jheri curl style short to medium style Brown eyes Clothing she was last seen wearing : blue and white sleeveless striped or checkered shirt, blue and white walking shorts, she was not wearing any shoes or socks. All of her clothing was labeled with her name. She's also an epileptic
Epps sounds like a good suspect, he had a reason to get rid of her. Now he's deceased..
Daffany was last seen walking in her hometown of Jackson, Mississippi on July 26, 1988 in the 4400 block of Azalea Circle in North Jackson. Her mother lived on Bailey Ave. Daffany left her grandparents residence between 7-8 pm. She was last seen walking toward Northside Drive. It was uncharacteristic of her to stay out after dark. Daffanys biological father was ruled out as a suspect in her case, he's now deceased.
At the time of Daffanys dissapearance police were investigating allegations that her mother's boyfriend had sexually abused her in June of 1988. Daffanys mother shared twin boys with the man. Daffany had to an aunt that Earnest Lee Epps had touched her inappropriately while she was asleep. Epps denied any wrong doing. However he was arrested on July 9 and charged with sexual battery. At one point the Epps family offered the Tullos family 175 dollars to drop the complaint against him but they declined. He was released on the morning of July 26 the same day Daffany went missing. Despite the timing of his release police were unable to tie him to the childs dissapearance. Authorities got tips as far away as Michigan but they were never able to determine the child's fate. She would have started 2nd grade in Autumn of 1988.
The one wish that Daffanys 81 year old grandma Shirley Tullos has is that God will allow her to know in her lifetime what happened to her granddaughter. Even though it's been 30 years her family still has not given up hope of finding her. Last year her family thought they found her, because a woman they thought could be Daffany was about the same age she would be now, and her name is Dafany. She also bore a striking resemblance to the Tullos family. A search also produced no vital records of the woman's mother giving birth to the child. Their hopes were crushed after the woman and her mother met with Jackson police and the Tullos family. The woman and her mother provided a birth certificate proving she wasn't Daffany.
Daffanys aunt Sylvia Varnell said they shed some tears behind the mistaken identity. Saying that's the closest we have ever come to finding her. Shirley Tullos now lives in Spokane, Washington she said she just hopes someone will come through and tell her something, just not knowing is what bothers you. Shirley spent most of her life savings in effort to find Daffany.
Daffany dissapeared the same day as wealthy socialite Anne Laurie Herrin was kidnapped, Varnell and other family members believe that more police resources went toward searching for Herrin than Daffany. Herrins husband received a random demand but she was never found and has since been declared dead.
Varnell said some Jackson officer's worked tirelessly searching for Daffany. Former detective Edna Drake became like a family member. Drake, now security Chief at Tougaloo college, was a detective in the juvenile division of the Jackson police department, when Daffany was reported missing. Drake said she prays constantly that the family will have closure. She also said she thought the child would return home, it's like she walked off the face of the Earth. Drake also said the police followed up on every lead, police even pursued a lead claiming the child was living in New Orleans, and another that she was living with relatives in Michigan. Sadly none of those leads have panned out.
Daffanys mother and her then boyfriend were investigated, both took and passed polygraph exams Drake said. However some family members are not convinced that Epps or someone he was associated with didn't play a role in Daffanys dissapearance. Epps is now deceased. Daffany told her childhood friend who is also her cousin that Epps had molested her. That's the last thing Daffany told Tiffany Taylor. Taylor said Daffany was her best friend. Dake said law enforcement worked beyond paid hours on the case in hopes of finding the little girl.
Daffanys aunt and other family members had hopes of gathering at the last place Daffany knew as home on Azalea Drive for the 30th anniversary of her dissapearance, to release balloons in honor of Daffanys dissapearance if the current occupants allow them to do so.
If you have any information about Daffany Tullos whereabouts contact the Jackson police department (601) 960-1234
Daffany Sherika Tullos Last seen on : 07/26/1988 D O.B : 11/02/1980 3'7 55lbs Black female Black hair jheri curl style short to medium style Brown eyes Clothing she was last seen wearing : blue and white sleeveless striped or checkered shirt, blue and white walking shorts, she was not wearing any shoes or socks. All of her clothing was labeled with her name. She's also an epileptic
Epps sounds like a good suspect, he had a reason to get rid of her. Now he's deceased..
Moonwalker9
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The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
Daffany Sherika Tullos – The Charley Project
Daffany Sherika Tullos
- Missing Since07/26/1988
- Missing FromJackson, Mississippi
- ClassificationEndangered Missing
- Date of Birth11/02/1980 (38)
- Age7 years old
- Height and Weight3'7, 55 pounds
- Clothing/Jewelry DescriptionA blue and white checkered or striped sleeveless shirt, blue and white walking shorts and no shoes or socks. All of Daffany's clothing is labeled with her name.
- Medical ConditionsDaffany is epileptic and requires daily medication to control her seizures and other symptoms. She did not have her medication with her when she vanished. If she goes for longer than three days without her medication, Daffany will suffer frequent seizures, which are often preceded by severe headaches.
- Distinguishing CharacteristicsAfrican-American female. Black hair, brown eyes. Daffany wore her hair in a short to medium-length Jheri curl style at the time she disappeared in 1988. Her ears are pierced. Her name may be spelled "Daphne."
She was last seen walking from her grandmother house at Azalea Circle towards Northside Drive.
Her street
Google Maps
Northside Drive
Google Maps
It would only take a few minutes to walk. My guess is that a neighboour abducted the girl who was upset at the time and she didn't make it very far down the road. Her stepfather was a suspect but who knows. LE should look at who lived in the blocks from her grandmothers house towards the road. I don't think a stranger took her so close to her home in a smaller town like this. I feellike this case should have been closed and solved long time ago.
Here's a 2018 article about her dissapearence
Finding Daffany is still a priority for her family 30 years after she vanished
John/Jane Doe
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TheArtfulDetective
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Anniversary of disappearance today.
spartanx
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unfortunately the main suspect is dead.. just the day she disappeared, this guy had been released.. maybe she saw him and thought she could trust him.. and the very unfortunate epps took her away.. never We will know what really happened but I have one question... how do you allow your daughter or granddaughter to leave your house for a simple discussion of some fish sticks at 8 years old...
rest in peace
rest in peace
Iknewit80
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Good question! How do you not run after her? I wonder why she was not living with her mother and for how long? Did it have to do the sexual abuse allegations against the boyfriend? Also, how long did it take for mom to notice her child wasn't coming back and report her missing?