Have You Seen Jafet?

Local activist Theresa Racine of Xtrememeasure, and Ozzie Edwards, a local community activist, promptly formed a search team on Sunday, December 7, after seeing a post shared by The Rockaway Times about a missing child, Jafet Elias (Elijah) Jemmott. Jemmott has been missing from Rockaway since Friday, November 28.

Jafet Jemmott, who goes by Elijah, is a 15-year-old Midwood High School student. He is 5’7”, 130 lbs, wears black glasses and was last seen wearing black pants, a white t-shirt, a black hoodie and white sneakers, while waiting for the Q52 bus at Beach 73rd and Rockaway Beach Blvd. Jafet’s father, Federico Jemmott, was at work when he received an alert on the 360 app that Jafet had left the house at around 6 a.m., with 5% phone battery. When they tried to call, the phone was off. It is believed he was communicating with someone online who convinced him to leave early in the morning, and he had plans of stopping by a thrift store and Kings Plaza Mall in Brooklyn, but he never arrived. His phone last pinged while crossing the Cross Bay Bridge.

Racine, possessing extensive experience in locating missing children, including her own family members who went missing, immediately contacted the parents upon seeing the post to offer guidance and reassurance, as a search team gathered. She noted that at least 12 community members showed up to the search and distribute flyers, with those with vehicles searching the Cross Bay area and nearby malls. The parents had been conducting an independent search for over a week before the public was notified.

The case is under the jurisdiction of the 100th Precinct detectives, with other agencies and community members collaborating to share information and gather leads on Jafet’s location. His family fears he may have been lured away by someone he met online.

All eyes and ears are needed to look out for Jafet. If seen, call 911 immediately or reach out to the family at 347-377-2279. Keep this family in your thoughts and prayers as the search is ongoing. The family thanks everyone for their help.