Mother of missing Macon man reflects on finding his body in Boone County
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Shawna Patterson -- the mother of 25-year-old Malik Jones, whose body was found in a wooded area Wednesday afternoon in Boone County -- told ABC 17 News that she and her daughter were the ones to find him.
Patterson said she believes it was her persistent prayers that led her to finding her son.
"Prayer led us to Malik," she said. "We prayed and we asked God to bring us to him, show us where Malik was."
According to online dispatch logs, first responders were called to the 6100 block of North Creasy Springs Road at 11:55 a.m. Wednesday for a medical response. That is the same area where Jones' body was found, according to a Wednesday press release from the Boone County Sheriff's Office.
Capt. Brian Leer, of the sheriff's office, confirmed Thursday morning that a homicide investigation is underway. Leer said the body was found by community members searching the area for him. Jones' vehicle was found in the Columbia area, Leer said. The investigation into Jones' disappearance is active and authorities will not release other details, the sheriff's office says.
A missing poster says Jones was on his way to Columbia when he was last seen and was driving a blue Chevrolet Malibu with license plate number TK5D3V. Jones was reported missing to the Missouri State Highway Patrol by Macon police on Jan. 30.
Patterson said she and her daughter had searched Columbia everyday since Jones was reported missing. Patterson said they had searched areas near Creasy Springs Road in the past, but had never gone as far into the wooded area where Jones was found.
Patterson said a private investigator helped lead them to the area. Patterson reflected on the moment, saying she hopes no one else ever has to experience what she and her daughter did.
"We just lean on each other for strength," Patterson said. "It's hard, it's very hard. No parent should ever have to see their child in a condition like that...yeah it's just hard."
Patterson said her son loved everyone and had a strong relationship with God. She said she hopes people remember his positive attitude, contagious smile and know he was a caring man.
"He loved his family and his girlfriend," she said. "He always had a smile on his face, always reminded everybody to pray and give it to God. He prayed for his family more than he prayed for himself."
Several law enforcement agencies, including the Macon Police Department, the Boone County Sheriff's Office and Columbia Police Department began looking for Jones after he was reported missing. Patterson said she understands how busy law enforcement can be, and believes they did everything they could in helping find her son.
Their busy schedules is what she said prompted her and her daughter to put some of the search efforts into their own hands. Patterson said she and her family are hoping for closure about what happened to their loved one.
"We were tenacious in not stopping until we found Malik to bring him home," she said. "That's kind of our prayer, now it's changed from bringing him home to getting justice for him."
The Boone County Sheriff's Department and Patterson ask that anyone with information regarding Jones' disappearance or death call 573-442-6131. There is also the option to call CrimeStoppers at 573-875-TIPS to remain anonymous.
