Authorities Investigate Possible Break In Case Of Jessica Heeringa, Missing 3 Years

MUSKEGON (WWJ) - There could finally be a break in the case of a western Michigan gas station clerk missing for three years.

The Muskegon County Sheriff is confirming that he's investigating a suspect under arrest for the alleged kidnapping of a teen for a possible connection to the disappearance of Jessica Heeringa.

The young mother hasn't been seen since just before she was closing up an Exxon Station where she worked in Norton Shores on April 26, 2013.

Sheriff Dean Roesler said the descriptions of both the suspect and his silver minivan in the recent abduction are similar to witness descriptions in the Heeringa case.

There's nothing conclusive yet.

"I mean, there's some similarities, but for me to say on the phone or in this interview that, you know, we have the person responsible for Herringa, I can't do that," Roesler told WWJ's Sandra McNeill. "We're continuing our investigation and investigators are finishing up with some search warrants."

Specifically, he said, deputies on Tuesday were searching the suspect's Muskegon Township home and his van.

Investigators have said they think Heeringa was taken against her will by someone she likely knew. There was no indication of a robbery, as Heeringa's purse, vehicle and other items were left behind at the scene. DNA testing showed a small amount of blood found outside the gas station belonged to Heeringa.

Hundreds of tips have been investigated and a cash reward topping $21,000 is being offered in the case — but still, no one knows what happened to Herringa.

"We're certainly hopeful we can bring closure to the family and to the community on Jessica's case," Roesler said. "We're confident that we have the person responsible for our case, the attempted abduction, but the investigators and all the agencies involved: our local agencies, the sheriff's office, state police, the federal agencies — they've all been working very diligently."

Meantime, Roesler said the suspect was behind bars on pending charges in the more recent case. He said the teen claims she was walking along a highway when a man picked her up and locked her inside his van until she was able to escape from the moving vehicle.

Anyone with information about either case is asked to contact Silent Observer anonymous tip line at 231-72-CRIME.