Police Having Trouble Retracing Girl's Path Hours Before Her Death

by Nora Gathings (hsgathings@wsbt.com)

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Jodi Parrack Constantine cemetery

The body of 11-year-old Jodi Parrack was found in a Constantine cemetery Thursday night, Nov. 8, 2007. Police believe someone abducted the girl as she rode her bike home from a friend's house, then killed her. (Photo provided)

By Jim Pinkerton

(WSBT) Police are re-tracing a young girl's last steps before her death, but they say the path ends blocks from where it began.

Now, investigators are going door to door talking to neighbors and business owners. They're searching for any clues about Jodi Parrack's death.

Her mother discovered the girl's body in a Constantine cemetery Thursday.

Police have received hundreds of tips, but no solid leads, and Constantine police say this investigation is taking an emotional toll.

They've been canvassing neighborhoods with help from the St. Joseph County Task Force and the FBI. At this point, they say no one in Constantine has been eliminated as a suspect.

Last Thursday afternoon, Parrack left a friend's house on 3rd Street around 4:45 p.m.. Police say she was seen a few blocks away heading away from her own home on 3rd Street, then she disappeared.

Police have received 327 tips but are still looking for that one, "who may have seen Jodi after 4:45. We haven't found anyone who saw her after 4:45," said Chief Mark Honeysett, Constantine Police.

Police were told she may have stopped downtown to get a snack before her 5:30 p.m. curfew. But no one saw her, including Jerry Roevke who works at a downtown gas station.

"It just bothers me," said Roevke.

Roevke says Jodi and her father came in every morning at 7:05 before school.

"I'd say good morning and she'd say good morning with a smile and put her little head down," said Roevke.

But she didn't see that smile Friday.

Jodi's body was found the night before in a cemetery six hours after her disappearance.

"It's easy access. You can go in or out any direction. It's dark. It's relatively secluded," said Honeysett.

Police say it's not a place kids hang out, so they don't know why she was there or how she got there.

"Someone knows what happened obviously," said Honeysett. "I'm hoping people more than the person who did this knew what happened."

Police will keep searching for answers as a grieving town focuses on Jodi's family and raising money for funeral expenses.

"I keep hoping and praying that they catch who did this. They need to be caught. They need to be punished. What they did was wrong. They took a precious angel from us," said Roevke.

Businesses in Constantine and White Pigeon have jars set up to collect money. They've raised several hundred dollars.

Police are confident that they will find the killer, but say they aren't sure whether the killer even lives in the area.

The coroner is waiting on final autopsy results. Police say Parrack's cause of death has not been determined, but it has been ruled a homicide.

Monday, Nov 26 at 10:41 AM Former Falcon Class of 84 wrote ...

Talia is right. You suspicious ppl obviously have NO idea what Constantine looks like! I lived a block from the cemetery from a baby to graduation. Believe me, there are not many places to go. The cemetery would be one of the most obvious to look.

Monday, Nov 19 at 10:10 PM moms statement to Kal. gazette wrote ...

A friend of ours said, anybody checked the cemetery? "So we drove there," said Valerie Carver, (Jodi's mom) "When I saw her bike leaned up against the stone, she (the driver) didn't even stop the car before I jumped out and ran."...(mlive.com)

Monday, Nov 19 at 5:34 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I heard two different stories. 1. the mother found the body with a group of people 2. the mother found her all alone ????????????????????????????????????????

Monday, Nov 19 at 11:46 AM Julie wrote ...

When you have exhausted all the usual places you might expect to find your child, of course you would look anywhere else you could think of. You wouldn't want to skip any area.

Monday, Nov 19 at 10:01 AM talia wrote ...

In a small town, one quickly runs out of places to look. I find nothing unusual about searching the cemetary given how small Constantine is and the proximity the cemetary was to her home. This has to be a nightmare for the family. Pray for them.

Sunday, Nov 18 at 5:24 PM been there. wrote ...

mom is 99.9% of the time the last person to think her baby is dead, even after it is confirmed. also, who ever was in that group of people in that auto that suggested the cemetery needs a closer look at.

Sunday, Nov 18 at 10:03 AM catrina wrote ...

It is amazing how boring your life must be to have to gossip about such a tragic event. Stop all the hate and evil and take up a hobby!! Shame on you for makeing this little girl into a spectator event.

Sunday, Nov 18 at 6:34 AM anonymous wrote ...

rumour has it the mom oewd drug money and this was a warning

Friday, Nov 16 at 9:11 PM Kay wrote ...

Children are INDEED often seen hanging out or riding bikes in the cemetery! There is a "hidden mausoleum" built into the side of a hill in the center of the cemetery.It is hidden from the road but you often see kids running up from the hill!

Friday, Nov 16 at 9:07 PM Alicia wrote ...

This family deserves some respect and time to grieve without accusations. Let the police do their jobs and come together for support, that's what small towns are for.

Friday, Nov 16 at 1:19 PM Been there. wrote ...

nothing worst then losing a child violent's, nothing. a mother would search every friends home, playground/park, school, store before she wouldn't even think of a cemetery. wonder who in her group suggested that?

Friday, Nov 16 at 12:57 PM so sad wrote ...

Can you not see that the cemetary was the last place they looked as a last resort? If that was your child and you found her, would you want all these ridiculous questions and accusations? Didn't think so!Plus she was with a group of people!

Friday, Nov 16 at 7:11 AM sherrie wrote ...

I agree it seems strange what made mom decide to look for her in the cemetary?Odd place for parent to look for missing child.

Friday, Nov 16 at 6:29 AM Anonymous wrote ...

my heart goes out to this family. I have no idea how this family is doing but they are definetly in my prayers for this family

Friday, Nov 16 at 6:19 AM anonymous wrote ...

I am right there with you Stephen. What would make her mother go look at the cemetary where police say, "it's not a place where kids hang out." Something just doesn't seem right about that !!

Friday, Nov 16 at 2:05 AM Bob wrote ...

It would be nice if people would realize just how close to housing that cemetery actually is before blaming the mother, of course that would take some effort and involve actual journalism as opposed to sensationalism.

Thursday, Nov 15 at 6:46 PM Derek wrote ...

Neighbors and her went out in search of the little girl. Her house was only hundreds of yards away. I actually work next to this cemetery at Rexam, it was surprising to see how fast the police were reacting to this event.

Thursday, Nov 15 at 3:24 PM Stephen wrote ...

Why did the mother go to the cemetery?

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