Update: Alert is canceled. Deborah Jenkins was found safe.
CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia State Police issued a CODI Alert for a 14-year-old Chesapeake girl, and the man she was last seen with has prior convictions of sexual assault, Virginia State Police said.
Deborah Jenkins was last seen wearing a black zip up hoodie and black pants. She was last seen around 1 a.m. on Monday outside the Comfort Inn and Suites South Military Highway. She is described as having blonde hair, hazel eyes, 5-foot-2, 75 lbs.
She was last seen with 41-year-old James Bell, who State Police confirmed is a registered sex offender on the sex offender and crimes against minors registry, having been convicted in 2011 of two counts aggravated sexual battery, with the sex offender registry listing a Portsmouth home as where he lives.
He is described as having brown hair, brown eyes, 5-foot-7, 200 lbs., and wearing a black-hooded sweatshirt, black pants and a black hat with a green pot leaf logo.
Chesapeake Police said Bell is known to Jenkins.
10 On Your Side’s Andy Fox spoke with Christine Burton, who originally introduced herself as Jenkins’ mother, but later clarified she was the legal guardian. Burton said that Bell is her ex-boyfriend, and she told him that she was ready to leave.
“I basically just told him that I was ready to leave,” Burton said. “I was going to pack me and my kids up to go back home.” She also got into an argument with Jenkins, and went outside to smoke a cigarette. When she returned, the 14-year-old was gone, Burton said.
Burton said she brought Jenkins here to get away from Bell, but did not think she was in danger.
“As I got of the shower, me and her got into an argument,” Burton said. “I went out to smoke a cigarette and when I got back she was gone, and I haven’t heard from her since. … I do not think she is in danger, honestly I don’t.”
While Burton claimed Jenkins is in no danger, State Police said the disappearance poses a credible threat to Jenkins’ health.
Burton seemed to not be worried for Jenkins, however, the teen’s adopted sister, Deanna Miller, said she is very concerned.
“I’m lost for words, like, I want her back,” Miller said, while crying. “I’m 22. We’re, like, scared — worried about my 14-year-old sister. I want her home.”
Burton told us she knew her former boyfriend was a convicted felon.
“I want my sister to come home. I want her safe. The whole family does,” said Veronica Ferris, Jenkins’ biological sister. Ferris calls Deborah Jenkins “Abby” and is upset with Burton.
“Abby, needs to be in a safe environment,” Ferris said. “We trusted her [Christine] to keep her in a safe environment, and she allowed that monster to come near her, and to harm her, and to put her in danger to threaten her life and safety.”
10 On Your Side asked her biological father, Dwayne Jenkins Sr., also called Rocky, what he would say to her if she’s watching.
“God be with you,” Dwayne said. “My prayers are with you sweetheart. Stay safe; I know you are smart. I know you will do the right thing and reach out for help.”
Said Ferris: “You know where we all live. You know our phone numbers. Come to us. We don’t care who you go to in the family. Just come to us. We will protect you. We will get you the help that you need. We love you deeply and we don’t want you hurt.”
If you know where they are, you are urged to call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.