Jessica Suzanne Gutierrez was a girl who disappeared from her home in Lexington, South Carolina. Her age progression shows her at age 32.
A man was convicted of her abduction and murder in 2024.
Case[]
Jessica was last seen sleeping in her family's mobile home on June 5, 1986, between 11:30 p.m. and 9 a.m. the next day. During that time frame, an intruder broke into the house and abducted Jessica. Jessica's mother discovered the scene and reported her missing the morning of June 6. Jessica's older sister, Rebecca, witnessed and told her mother about the abduction.
Jessica's mother's ex-boyfriend, J.R. Gordon, was considered a suspect in her disappearance. Jessica's mother had broken up with him and kicked him out of the mobile home a few days before Jessica was abducted. J.R. denied any involvement and was later ruled out. Jessica's father was also cleared, as he was in California.
Thomas Eric McDowell, a family friend who was 27 years old when Jessica disappeared, became a prime suspect when his fingerprint was found on Jessica's bedroom window. Thomas was incarcerated shortly after Jessica's abduction for stealing a car and raping a woman. While incarcerated, Thomas confided to his cellmate that he had abducted a 4-year-old girl from Lexington County and brought her to "a logging place" where he raped, killed, and dismembered her. The cellmate told authorities. When confronted, McDowell told authorities that if he gained immunity, he would confess. McDowell was denied immunity. In 2007, Rebecca picked McDowell's photo in a photo lineup. However, this was not considered conclusive evidence because the picture was taken 8 years after Jessica's abduction.
Despite Jessica's body never being found, McDowell was charged with her kidnapping and murder as well as first-degree burglary in January 2022. McDowell's cellmate had testified against him. McDowell was sentenced to 2 consecutive life in prison terms in February 2024.
Characteristics[]
- Brown hair.
- Brown eyes.
- Small scar near right eye.
- Wart on left hand.
- Painted nails.
- Ear-piercing scars on earlobes.
- Brown, small birthmark on right buttock.
Clothing and accessories[]
- Pink and white T-shirt.
- White panties.