Case Details

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This person was missing Missing Since 08/14/1983

Missing Since:

Missing Since 08/14/1983

Missing From:

Missing From Staten Island, New York

Classification:

Classification Non-Family Abduction

Gender:

Female

Race:

Race Black

Date of Birth:

Date of Birth 10/05/1972 (52)

Age:

Age 10 years old

Height and Weight:

Height and Weight 4’8, 90 pounds

Clothing/Jewelry Description:

Clothing/Jewelry Description A dark blue ski jacket with white trim, a white ruffled blouse or sweater, blue Gitano jeans, blue plastic mesh shoes, a gold necklace with a butterfly charm, a silver bangle bracelet on her left wrist, and two purple combs in her hair.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

Distinguishing Characteristics African-American female. Black hair, brown eyes. Tiahease has a burn scar on her left wrist and elbow and a mole on her left cheek. Her left eye is lazy and turns inwards. Her name is pronounced Ty-eese.

Details of Disappearance:

On August 14, 1983, 10-year-old Tiahease Jackson vanished from Staten Island, New York. Her family was staying at the Mariner’s Harbor Motel after a fire destroyed their apartment. Tiahease was sent to a nearby supermarket to buy chicken wings. She never came back.

Her mother reported her missing after finding her asleep for hours. Tiahease was described as street-smart but aware of dangers, and often ran errands alone. The police investigated, clearing Tiahease’s family of suspicion.

A major suspect is Andre Rand, a convicted child sex offender. He was released from prison just twelve days before Tiahease disappeared. Rand had a campsite very close to the motel, and Tiahease’s mother saw a man matching his description nearby.

Rand is linked to several other disappearances in the Staten Island area, including the 1981 kidnapping of Holly Hughes (for which he was convicted in 2004). He was also convicted of kidnapping and killing Jennifer Schweiger in 1987. Her body was found near his old campsite. Despite these convictions and suspicions, Rand maintains his innocence, and Tiahease’s case remains unsolved. Volunteers still search for clues related to his possible involvement.

Agency:

New York Police Department 646-610-6914

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