Jessica Gray Missing Person Case

Feb 05, 2021

Jan 12, 2024

Jessica

Gray

36

30

63 inches

200 lbs

Black / African American

Female

In the community of Benton Harbor, Michigan, a 30-year-old mother of two named Jessica Gray vanished, leaving her family desperate for answers. She was last seen on the evening of Sunday, December 1, 2019. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance began to surface when police were called to conduct a welfare check at a residence in Benton Township in the early morning hours of December 2nd. A relative of the home's resident, 38-year-old Willie Lark Jr., had found the front door ajar and what appeared to be blood in the doorway, prompting the call to authorities. Upon their arrival, police discovered a disturbing scene that included live ammunition and spent shell casings inside the home, but neither Lark nor Jessica were present. Jessica's family contacted investigators, reporting that she had been at that address and they feared she may have been shot and was in need of medical attention. The investigation quickly focused on Willie Lark Jr., who was identified as a person of interest in Jessica's disappearance. A few days later, on December 9, Lark was located and arrested in Columbus, Ohio, on a parole violation and other charges unrelated to the case. He was subsequently extradited back to Michigan. Despite his arrest, Lark was reportedly not cooperative in providing information regarding what happened at his house or Jessica's whereabouts. While authorities had collected blood evidence from the scene, it was not publicly confirmed if it was a match to Jessica. The lack of information from law enforcement was a source of great pain and frustration for Jessica's family. In the years following her disappearance, Jessica's mother, Caroline Gray, and other family members have continued to advocate tirelessly for her. They organized rallies to bring attention to the case and to demand more action from the Benton Township Police Department, expressing their belief that more could be done, such as using police drones or cadaver dogs in the search. Caroline Gray's love for her daughter has fueled her own relentless search efforts. Nearly two years after Jessica went missing, her mother was led by dreams to a former school building where she discovered items she was certain belonged to her daughter, including pants she remembered her wearing and a pillowcase with a bloodstain on it. The discovery prompted police to collect the items. The case remains a painful, unsolved mystery for a family who remembers Jessica as a loving mother with a passionate and caring heart who would do anything for anyone. The investigation into her disappearance continues, with a person of interest identified but few definitive answers, leaving a community and a heartbroken family still waiting for Jessica to come home.

Dec 01, 2019

Benton Harbor

Michigan

Berrien County

49022

No

99781

Benton Charter Township Police Department

Benton Harbor

Michigan

Berrien County

49022

1725 Territorial Rd # 1, Michigan

2699268221

Local

Law Enforcement

19-10259

2019-12-02

Benton Charter Township Police Department

6333

Black

Brown

Brown

07/08/2026