In the summer of 1998, 16-year-old Jonnie Renee White was living with her mother in Kodiak, Alaska, and, like many teenagers, was looking toward the future. She had hopes of getting a job and saving enough money to move in with her boyfriend, who was away on a fishing trip at the time. On July 19, 1998, Jonnie was hired by Sharon Dawson Raikoglo and her boyfriend, Roland Scott Tennison, to babysit their young child during a music festival at the Pasagshak Bay State Recreation Site. Jonnie had worked for the couple before and was also expected to act as a designated driver if needed. That evening, under circumstances that remain unclear, Jonnie accompanied Tennison in his pickup truck, purportedly to gather firewood for their campsite. This would be the last time anyone has reported seeing Jonnie.
According to Roland Scott Tennison's account to authorities, his truck became stuck in the sand on a beach near the Kodiak Cattle Ranch, miles from their campsite, around midnight. He claimed that due to the chilly weather and their inadequate clothing, he and Jonnie decided to sleep in the truck until daylight. Tennison stated that they both fell asleep around 4:00 a.m. and when he awoke at 10:00 a.m., Jonnie was gone. He said he assumed she had walked back to their campsite. When Tennison eventually returned to the camp around noon, Jonnie was not there. Sharon Dawson Raikoglo had already contacted the authorities to report that both Tennison and Jonnie had not returned from their firewood excursion. An extensive search of the area was launched, involving search and rescue teams, dogs, and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter equipped with infrared technology, but no trace of Jonnie was ever found.
The investigation into Jonnie's disappearance yielded little physical evidence. When authorities examined Tennison's truck, they found no blood, semen, alcohol, or drugs. Curiously, despite the stated purpose of their trip, there was no firewood in the truck, only fire marks in the sand nearby. In July 2000, a coroner's jury concluded that Jonnie had died on the night she vanished from unknown causes. No criminal charges have ever been filed in connection with her disappearance. Jonnie's mother, believing there was more to the story, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against both Tennison and Raikoglo in 2001. During the civil proceedings, Tennison invoked his constitutional right against self-incrimination and refused to answer questions about the night Jonnie disappeared. Ultimately, both he and Raikoglo were found liable for Jonnie's presumed death and were ordered to pay damages. The case of Jonnie Renee White's disappearance is a perplexing and tragic mystery, leaving her family and community with unanswered questions about what truly happened on that remote Alaskan beach.
Last Seen: Jul 19, 1998
