Summary based on the NamUs case record (CP999655198) and
1 other sourceDevonte Jordan Hart, 15, was last seen on March 26, 2018, in the Westport, California area, following a tragic incident that claimed the lives of his entire family. The case, which has been ruled a murder-suicide, involved his adoptive mothers, Jennifer and Sarah Hart, and his five siblings. While the bodies of his mothers and five siblings were recovered, Devonte's remains have never been found.
The Hart family's vehicle, a GMC Yukon XL, was found at the bottom of a 100-foot cliff off of California's Highway 1 in Mendocino County on March 26, 2018. The bodies of Jennifer and Sarah Hart were discovered inside the vehicle. The remains of three of their children, Markis, 19, Jeremiah, 14, and Abigail, 14, were found near the crash site. In the following months, the body of their sister Sierra, 12, was also recovered. The remains of another sister, Hannah, 16, were identified in January 2019. Devonte is the only member of the family whose body has not been located.
Investigators determined that the crash was intentional. Data from the vehicle's software indicated the SUV had stopped at a pull-off area before accelerating over the cliff. Toxicology reports revealed that Jennifer Hart's blood alcohol level was over the legal limit, and both Sarah Hart and two of the children had diphenhydramine in their systems. Prior to the crash, Sarah Hart had reportedly made internet searches related to the effects of Benadryl and drowning. The family had been the subject of a child welfare investigation in Washington state, where they resided, and a social worker had visited their home just days before the incident. Neighbors had also reported concerns, stating that Devonte had been coming to their house asking for food.
Despite extensive search efforts along the rugged coastline, Devonte's body has not been recovered. In 2019, a superior court judge ruled that Devonte was in the vehicle at the time of the crash, and a death certificate was issued on April 3 of that year. Before the tragedy, Devonte gained national attention in 2014 from a viral photograph of him tearfully hugging a white police officer during a protest in Portland, Oregon.Last Seen: Mar 26, 2018
