SAN FRANCISCO—Two missing toddlers who were reported missing on Monday, March 21 have been found safe. The two children, Mekaylah Jones, female, 2-1/2 years old and Renyce Jones, female 14 months were last seen at the Carl’s Junior restaurant near Hallidie Plaza at approximately 2:24 a.m. Both toddlers were sitting in a side-by-side stroller and left in the care of an acquaintance of the children’s mother.
The children’s mother, Shanyce Jones, 26, of Oakland reported the kids missing at the Tenderloin Station on Tuesday, March 22 at 10 p.m. According to a press release from the San Francisco Police Department, during the course of the preliminary investigation, it was determined that Jones and the children had been at the Burger King restaurant on the 1200 block of Market Street on March 21 between 12 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Jones met a person named “Jacquita” whom she had met approximately two months prior. The mother left the children with Jacquita after making arrangements to meet her at a restaurant in Hallidie Plaza three hours later. Jones was late to the pre-arranged meeting and arranged to meet Jacquita on March 22. When Jones went to the restaurant on March 22, Jacquita and the children were not to be found.
After interviews with authorities, officials discovered that Jones made inconsistent statements to investigators who developed probable cause to arrest Jones. She was later booked on child endangerment and possession of controlled substance charges. She currently remains in police custody.
The SFPD implemented a continuous search for the missing toddlers and issued a teletype. As part of the on-going search for the toddlers, a San Francisco Police officer assigned to the Mission Station went to the Family and Children’s Emergency Service Office on Otis Street. The officer inquired about the two missing kids and staff members informed the officer they received a call from St. Francis Hospital. Staff at the hospital informed Social Services that a woman had just walked into the facility with the two missing toddlers.
At approximately 3:45 p.m., officers from Tenderloin Station responded to St. Francis Hospital where they located the missing toddlers and the acquaintance “Jacquita” who the mother had left in their care. The children appeared in good health and are being medically evaluated and investigators from the Special Victims Unit will be conducting a further investigation. Child Protective Services will also be involved in that investigation. This is an on-going investigation and no further details are available at this time.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Special Victims Unit at (415) 553-9225, the Anonymous Tip Line at (415) 575-4444 or Text a Tip to, TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.
