On October 25, 2021, 67-year-old Sterling Emanuel Jones, a Black male, left his residence in Center Point, Alabama, and was never seen again. On that Monday morning, Jones departed with a significant amount of cash in the company of another Black male whom he had only recently met. Their stated destination was the Golden Moon Hotel and Casino at the Pearl River Resort in Philadelphia, Mississippi.
Jones was last seen at a Chevron gas station in Scooba, Mississippi, wearing a dark-colored long-sleeved shirt, gray pants, dark-colored sneakers, and a white Titleist hat. He was traveling in his 2011 Nissan Infiniti QX50 SUV, which was distinguished by a personalized license plate reading 'SIRNARD'. This vehicle was later found by investigators.
The man with whom Jones was traveling, described as a violent person, returned to Birmingham, Alabama, without him. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office began investigating Jones's disappearance and soon determined that the circumstances indicated he was endangered. Although his body has not been found, authorities believe that Jones was the victim of a homicide. Investigators suspect his remains could be located somewhere between Birmingham, Alabama, and Dekalb, Mississippi.
As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the disappearance and presumed death of Sterling Jones, and the case remains unsolved. Law enforcement officials believe that the individual responsible for his death may have had assistance from others, who may or may not have been aware of the crime. A reward of up to $20,000 has been offered by Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama for any information that leads to the charging and arrest of a suspect in the case. The family has pleaded for anyone with information to come forward to help bring them closure.
