NORTON SHORES, MI -- Shelly Heeringa, mother of the missing gas-station employee whose disappearance is being investigated as an abduction by Norton Shores Police, tried hard to hold back her tears as she talked about her daughter Sunday, April 28.
Just outside the Exxon Mobil gas station, located at 1196 E. Sternberg Road, where her daughter Jessica Heeringa, 25, went missing during a shift late on Friday night, Shelly Heeringa was passing out fliers with her daughter’s picture on them to help get the word out.
“I’m doing better today than I was yesterday. It feels good to be out,” Shelly Heeringa said. “Yesterday, I didn’t want to do anything. This scenario kept playing in my mind, so it’s good to be out here and see support.”
Shelly Heeringa said she believes someone who came to the gas station regularly “lured (Jessica Heeringa) out the back and shoved her in the back of the van.”
Based on tips that the Norton Shores Police Department has received, investigators are currently searching for a silver minivan, possibly a Chrysler Town & Country, that was last seen in the area prior to Heeringa’s disappearance. The evidence is based on a passerby observing the car parked near the gas station and driving away, police said.
“I’m sure she was abducted,” Shelly Heeringa said. “(There was) no struggle. She was cleaning a machine, she left her car keys, (and) no money was taken from the gas station.”
RELATED: Norton Shores missing person investigation reclassified as abduction case by police
She added that she does not recall Jessica Heeringa complaining about any particular person or an incident that might have led to her missing. She does recall telling her daughter several times that she was concerned for her working late at night by herself.
“She said, ‘Mom, don’t worry. I can handle anybody,’” Shelly Heeringa recalled.
Jessica Heeringa’s grandmother, Diane Homrich, said Jessica was very friendly, outgoing and enjoyed talking to the customers.
“(She) figured maybe someone needed help,” Homrich said. “She would be the first one to help.”
According to the Norton Shores Police Department, there were no security cameras operating at the gas station at the time of the alleged abduction.
Homrich said she is trying to hold up, although when she thinks of Jessica Heeringa’s face she can’t help but get emotional
“(It’s) just so shocking,” Homrich said.
Along with Jessica Heeringa’s immediate family, some local residents also stopped by at a spot near the gas station to pick up fliers and help spread the word.
Derek Antol of Norton Shores said he went to the Exxon Mobil gas station several times a week and when he heard the news that Jessica Heeringa went missing, he was “dumfounded.”
“I didn’t know her, I didn’t even know her name until this,” Antol said. “But she was always very sweet, friendly gal.”
Antol said he is offering $500 for any information that would lead up to an arrest.
“I would hope if it was my kid people would show up here to support me,” Antol added. “I am very surprised that people aren’t here.”
Shelly Heeringa said she prays for her daughter’s safe return.
“She’s loved by everyone,” she said. “She has a 3-year-old boy who is missing his mom and wants her back.”
Jessica Heeringa is a white female, 5 feet 1 inch tall, about 110 pounds, with
blond, shoulder-length hair and blue eyes. Heeringa is also known to
wear wired rim glasses. She may be wearing a blue collared shirt with
"Sternberg Exxon" on it.
Anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity near the Exxon Mobil gas station is asked to contact Silent Observer at 231-72-CRIME (231-722-7463) or call 911.