(National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)
Cassie Whitney, 11, and her sister, Jezzie Whitney, 13, went missing after their father’s funeral. Investigators in Allen County, Kentucky, have released photos of the girls, whom they believe to be in the custody of their mother, Melissa Scott.
According to missing poster from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Cassie is 4 feet 9 inches tall, weighs 112 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. Her older sister, Jezzie, is 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighs 197 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the Whitney sisters is asked to call the Allen County Sheriff’s Office at (270) 237-3210.
Here is what you need to know:
1. The Whitney Sisters Have Been Missing Since May 18, 2017
(National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)
Cassie and Jezzie have not been seen since attending a memorial service for their father. Media outlets report that the sisters haven’t been seen since May 18, however, a memorial service for Larry Whitney was scheduled to be held on May 21 at Pleasant Field Full Gospel Church, in Scottsville, Kentucky, according to the obituary listing at Goad Funeral Home.
According to the Allen County Sheriff’s Department, the Department of Protection and Permanency “took emergency custody of two juvenile females,” identified as Cassie and Jezzie Whitney, on May 18, 2017.
2. Their Father, Larry Whitney Jr., Died From a Chest Wound
(Getty)
On May 16, around 6:30 a.m., Allen County Police arrived at a home where a woman named Melissa Scott was living. Scott has been identified as the mother of Cassie and Jezzie. When police arrived, a man identified as Larry Whitney Jr. had been injured. Mr. Whitney is the father of Cassie and Jezzie.
“When we got there, there was an injury to his chest. It appeared to be a knife injury,” Allen County Sheriff Jeff Cooke told the Bowling Green Daily News.
Emergency personnel transported Mr. Whitney to The Medical Center at Scottsville. He was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The Allen County Sheriff’s Department shared the press release on their Facebook page on May 16.
3. Their Mother, Melissa Scott, Has a Warrant Out for Her Arrest
(National Center for Missing & Exploited Children)
Scott has a felony warrant out for her arrest. She is facing charges for Custodial Interference, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
Custodial interference falls under Kentucky Statute 509, which deals with kidnapping and related offenses. Custodial interference is defined under Section 70.
A person is guilty of custodial interference when, knowing that he has no legal right to do so, he takes, entices or keeps from lawful custody any mentally disabled or other person entrusted by authority of law to the custody of another person or to an institution.
Over the years, Scott has had multiple run-ins with the law.
Back in 2015, Scott was arrested during a traffic stop in Cave City as officers determined that she was under the influence. The passenger in her truck, identified as Michael Shane Johnson, was taken into custody as well after police uncovered that he’d had suspected drugs on his person. More suspected drugs were found in the vehicle, according to the Glasgow Daily Times.
“Scott was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/ drugs/etc. .08, first offense; driving on a suspended operator’s license; drug paraphernalia-buy/possess; no registration plates and possession of marijuana. She was taken to the Barren County Detention Center and was released Saturday after posting a $500 unsecured bond.”
4. Their Great Uncle, Jerry, Is Worried For Their Safety
(Getty)
Jerry Whitney posted his nephew’s obituary on Facebook last week. After Cassie and Jezzie went missing, he spoke to the local media about his great nieces and expressed his concern for their wellbeing.
“I worry about their safety. The environment that I’m sure that any kids that would be in on the run with their mom is not sound environment. They need to be in a safe environment,” Jerry Whitney told WBKO.
5. As of May 25, the Location of the Cassie, Jezzie, & Melissa Scott Was Still Unknown
(National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)
News reports that have been updated over the past seven days indicate that the location of the two sisters and their mother is still unknown.
There is not, currently, an active Amber Alert for the Whitney sisters on the website of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
