Jael Tiara Hamblen was a young woman who vanished in 2014.
Background[]
Jael was born Tiara on July 28, 1994, in Washington state. She had fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and spent the first fourteen months of her life in the foster system. She was raised primarily in Wasilla, Alaska, but she also spent time in Washington after her parents divorced.
Jael struggled with developmental delays as a result of her fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and began rebelling in her early teens. She eventually dropped out of high school. She ran away for the first time at age 17. However, according to her family, she became a more responsible person after she ended up giving birth to her son.
Case[]
Jael vanished from the Trailside Loop area of south Anchorage, Alaska, on October 11, 2014. That day, she went out to get dinner with her roommate, Kendra Estrada and returned home before 10:00 P.M. Both Kendra and Jael had children but were being babysat by Kendra's mother at the time. Afterwards, Jael considered going out again, but Kendra went to bed. It is worth noting that Jael was upset as she had been turned down by a man she liked. She texted a male friend at 1:00 A.M. to tell him she was crying and ask him if he would like to "get together" with her. She also texted another man shortly after 3:00 A.M.
The next day, Kendra texted Jael at 10:32 A.M. but received no response. At midday, Kendra decided to knock on Jael's door. When she went inside, she found the bed was unmade, and Jael was gone. However, she was not initially concerned as she believed that Jael had stayed somewhere else overnight or left earlier that morning. Kendra sent Jael two more texts that afternoon and attempted to ring her, although the calls went straight to voice mail. Investigators later found that the phone had not received Kendra's texts that day, indicating that it had been turned off or that the battery had died.
Jael was reported missing by her mother on October 14, 2014. She took a black purse and cell phone with her but left her vehicle behind.
Jael's purse was found by hikers in March 2015. It had been buried in the snow along the side of a trail in Chugiak, Alaska—her iPhone and social security card were found inside. Police don't believe Jael placed the purse there herself as she disliked hiking, and the temperatures were extremely low on the night she vanished.
Jael's family do not think she would have willingly left her son behind.
Characteristics[]
- Naturally brown hair, which she had dyed pink at the time of her disappearance.
- Green eyes.
- Pierced ears.
- She had a faint strawberry birthmark at the base of her skull.
- She had fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
- She may use the names Sasha or Tiara.
Clothing and accessories[]
- A black shirt and a white coat or a blue or black pea coat made of a wool-like fabric.
- Wide-legged blue jeans.
- High-heeled shoes or boots.
- A dark-colored scarf.
- Earrings.
Gallery[]
Sources[]
- Jael Hamblen at the Charley Project
- Jael Hamblen at NamUs
- Uncovered