Fourteen-year-old Jaylynn Harrell has been missing since December 28, 2024—and the most pressing question remains: Why did it take more than three months before anyone officially started looking for her?
Now, as local agencies point fingers and launch investigations, the focus must shift back to what truly matters: finding Jaylynn.
Jaylynn disappeared from the Portsmouth group home where she lived, reportedly a place she had a history of running away from. But this time, no one filed a missing person’s report—until April 7, 2025.
A Troubling Timeline
Here’s what we know so far:
- December 28, 2024: Jaylynn vanishes from the group home on Williams Street.
- April 7, 2025: Scioto County Children Services finally files a missing person report, saying the group home never reported her missing.
- April 8, 2025: SCDN breaks the story, revealing Jaylynn’s repeated history of running away and questioning why no report was filed sooner.
- April 9, 2025: Portsmouth Police finally post Jaylynn’s photo and details on their website. The Ohio Attorney General’s Office adds her to the state’s missing child database.
- April 12, 2025: The group home’s administrator drops a bombshell, telling SCDN they received a nuisance letter from the City Solicitor back in 2022, supposedly because the Police Chief was tired of responding to so many runaway calls. He also produced text messages he claims show CPS knew Jaylynn was gone and had already been in contact with police.
- April 15, 2025: Law enforcement sources fire back, strongly denying any such policy and maintaining that they do take missing children seriously. CPS confirms Jaylynn is still missing and refers further questions to the Scioto County Prosecutor.
So Who’s to Blame?
An investigation is now underway into how this all unfolded—but none of the bureaucratic back-and-forth changes the reality that a teenage girl has been missing for over 100 days without a full-scale search.
The heart-wrenching truth is this: Jaylynn could be anywhere. And every moment wasted increases the risk.
What You Need to Know About Jaylynn
- Name: Jaylynn Harrell
- Age: 14
- Height: 5’2”
- Weight: Approx. 120 lbs
- Hair: Brown
- Eyes: Hazel
- Last Seen: December 28, 2024, around 6:40 p.m. near the 1700 block of Williams Street in Portsmouth
- Clothing: Black leggings, black long-sleeved shirt, white shoes, and a white/yellow flannel-style shirt
How You Can Help
If you’ve seen Jaylynn or have any information about her whereabouts, contact Portsmouth Police immediately. Don’t assume someone else will. Don’t wait. Her safety could depend on one phone call.
Let’s Bring Jaylynn Home
Whether this was a bureaucratic failure or a miscommunication between agencies, one thing is painfully clear: this child deserves better. She deserves to be searched for, seen, and found.
If you know something—say something. It’s time to focus less on who dropped the ball and more on picking it back up.