Jenna Van Gelderen

**Jenna Ruth Van Gelderen** was a young woman who vanished in 2017.

## Background

Jenna studied at Georgia Gwinnett College for three years before dropping out and transferring to Gwinnett Technical College. She earned a certificate in office administration there in 2016. Also in 2016, Jenna was diagnosed with Autism. She had previously been diagnosed with a nonverbal learning disability in elementary school due to social difficulties. As a result, she could sometimes be overly trusting of others.

Six months before she vanished, Jenna was fired from her job at a pet shop. This was Jenna's first full time job and she had stolen $3,000 from the store. She was charged with misdemeanour theft for this. Her parents believe the money was for her friends who they think took advantage of her and didn't act with her best interests in mind.

As a result, Jenna's father accessed her cell phone records. Jenna was very angry when he confronted her with this and she moved out. She refused to tell her parents were she was living, although police later discovered she was renting a room from a friend. She also bought a second cell phone which was not on her parents' plan so she could communicate with her friends without them knowing.

Jenna's boyfriend claims to have spoken to her the evening prior to her disappearance and that the two ended their relationship at that time. He also claimed that Jenna had a drug addiction and worked as a sex worker, although this has never been independently collaborated by anyone.

## Case

Jenna was last seen at her parents house in the Durid Hills neighbourhood in Atlanta, Georgia on August 19, 2017. She was house-sitting for her parents who were in Canada at the time. She sent her last text at 2:00 a.m. when she left a friend know that she was going to lie down. She has not been heard from since. She left the lights and television on, the doors unlocked and did not feed her parents elderly cat.

An Egyptian tapestry was found to be missing from the home. It had been removed from its frame and a section of the glass had been cut off and replaced. The tapestry is hand made and two feet by five feet large. It was a family heirloom, purchased as part of a set by Jenna's grandfather in the 1940s, however it was not overly expensive.

Jenna's car, a dark blue 2010 Mazda 6, and her suitcase vanished with her. Strangely, her phone last pinged near Fairburn,  Georgia at 7:45 a.m. but her car was seen in Atlanta, Georgia around the same time. The car was found about seven miles away from her parents home at Defoor Place on September 5, 2017. It was almost out of gas and the driver's seat had been pushed back indicating that someone much taller than Jenna had driven the car.

Jenna's suitcase, shoes, wallet and glasses were found in the car. There were also shoes and a charger belonging to an unknown person inside. However, both of Jenna's phones are still missing. One is a T-mobile registered in her father's name. The other is an Android registered in her own name.

Jenna's rent for September went unpaid. Her roommate told police he was planning to throw out her belongings. He would not allow police to search the apartment but has not been named as a suspect in Jenna's case.

Jenna's family fear that she may be being held against her will. She was a very regimented person and it was out of character for her to disappear.

## Characteristics

* Black hair.
* Almond shaped brown eyes.
* Pierced ears.
* She has a star of David tattoo on her upper thigh.
* She is autistic.

## Clothing and accessories

* A green T-shirt with the words "San Antonio" on the front.
* Black yoga pants.
* Possibly a black spaghetti strap top.

## Sources

* Jenna Van Gelderen at the *Charley Project*
* Jenna Van Gelderen at *NamUs*