Markisha Jackson (9) 1/15/10 Jacksonville, FL
Search for MarkishaJACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is conducting an early morning door-to-door search on the street where a 9-year-old girl disappeared. Markisha Jackson was last seen inside her own home.
"The first 24 hours are very vital in something like this," said Sheriff John Rutherford. "It's scary."
Police began knocking on doors on Everest St. around 3:00 a.m. Saturday morning asking neighbors to look inside their homes. While some agreed, a few said no.
Meanwhile, other neighbors have joined in the search, using flashlights to look for any sign of Markisha. Action News spoke to one group who say they also assisted in the search for Somer Thompson.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has set up a mobile command unit at the nearby Hill Crest Baptist Church on Collins Road. Search helicopters are grounded for the night due to fog; but a second shift of officers has joined in the search.
Markisha's mother says the girl disappeared around 3:30 Friday afternoon. When she went to check on Markisha, the girl had apparently left the house through the window.
Tikeshia Jackson says they are a Navy family and had just been moved to Jacksonville. Because of the move, Markisha has few friends she could be with and no other family in the area. Family members from out of town were on their way to Jacksonville to aid in the search as of late Friday night.
Sheriff Rutherford says investigators are also searching places Markisha liked to go, including her favorite restaurants and a nearby park.
Markisha was last seen wearing a red shirt and denim skirt. The 9-year old was also wearing pony tails in her hair. She is a student at Chimney Lakes Elementary School in Jacksonville.
In a 7 a.m. news conference Saturday, Chief of Investigations Rick Graham said that despite the fact that there seems to be no foul play, they are "not going to take a chance."
Police are not asking for volunteers at this time, saying that currently they have plenty of resources for searching.
He said that they plan to re-do things they've already done to make sure they didn't miss anything.
He also said that they are going to remain optimistic, but plan for the worst.
Police Looking For Missing Girl
9-Year-Old Last Seen On Westside Near Everest Drivehttp://www.news4jax.com/news/22252278/detail.htmlFamily grateful to have missing girl home safe
After a 20-hour disappearance, the child is found in a Westside yard. http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-01-17/story/family_grateful_to_have_missing_girl_home_safe
Wed Jan 20, 2010 1:10 pm