The mother of a 14-year-old New Jersey girl who vanished in mid-October said the FBI took her DNA on Monday and asked her to take a polygraph test.
Jashyah Moore’s mother told WPIX that the FBI questioned her for two hours and took a DNA swab from her mouth. The next day, the agency reportedly asked her to take a polygraph test.
The mother said she was “devastated” because while she underwent questioning, East Orange police went to her home and took her deactivated iPhone. She told WPIX that the phone contained photos and videos relevant to an upcoming assault case involving her estranged husband — who is an East Orange police officer.
WPIX reported that officers also took toothbrushes from the missing teen’s home.
“I feel my rights were violated. These people, they treat me mean,” she told the news outlet.
Moore was last seen on October 14 at Poppie’s food market in East Orange. Her mother told WPIX that her daughter first went to U.S. Market that morning to purchase paper towels and juice, but she came back home because she lost the card to purchase the items. She reportedly told her to go back and retrace her steps.
Moore was reported missing when she did not return home from the deli, which is located a block away. The teen does not own a phone.
Moore’s family was originally unaware she had also gone to Poppie’s on October 14. Police said they obtained surveillance footage showing her at that market the same day she vanished, according to the news outlet.
A local salon owner reportedly told Moore’s mother that the teen appeared upset the morning she disappeared. Further, workers at U.S. Market revealed to WPIX that an older, masked man was with Moore and paid for her items.
Moore’s aunt said the teen’s estranged stepfather is an East Orange police officer who is facing an assault charge for an incident last year in Irvington. The aunt said the stepfather punched Moore twice in the face.
Moore’s mother went on to tell WPIX she received a letter that the case was going to a grand jury.
“I find it extremely convenient and coincidental that my niece goes missing a couple weeks later,” the aunt commented.
However, Essex County prosecutors told WPIX that they do not believe Moore’s disappearance is connected to the assault case involving her stepfather.
The missing teen was reportedly last seen wearing khaki pants, a black jacket, and black boots.
Anyone with information regarding JaShyah Moore’s whereabouts is urged to call the East Orange Police Department at 973-266-5041.
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[Featured image: JaShyah Moore/Facebook]
