A man walking his dog in the Nevada desert found the body of 10-year-old Jade Morris, who went missing after her babysitter was arrested for slashing a casino dealer last Friday. Jade’s body was found Thursday near an unfinished housing development in the northern portion of the Las Vegas Valley, the Huffington Post reports.
Family members visually identified the girl’s body Thursday afternoon.
“We are heartbroken today. It has been confirmed by family members that the body of … Jade Morris has been found. We pray for her family,” Natalie Wilson told The Huffington Post.
Wilson said the family wasn’t told the cause of death.
A missing persons alert was issued by Las Vegas late Tuesday. Police renewed their pleas for the public’s help on Thursday, after Jade’s family turned to the blogs for help finding her.
Jade was last seen with Brenda Stokes, a family friend who said she was taking the girl Christmas shopping at an outlet mall near downtown Las Vegas about 5 p.m. Friday. Police say Stokes, 50, borrowed a red 2007 Saab from a friend for the shopping trip and later returned the vehicle.
Stokes was arrested about 10 p.m. Friday after slashing a co-worker’s face with 2 razor blades at the Bellagio casino where they both worked. She is being held on $60,000 bail at the Clark County jail.
Surveillance video in the casino showed Stokes attacking blackjack dealer, Joyce Rhone, with a razor blade held in each hand.
Rhone, 44, was transported to a local hospital with deep facial lacerations, including one cut from her ear to the corner of her mouth.
Stokes told police she had not taken her prescription anti-anxiety drug that day, and that she felt like hurting someone. “Sometimes people just snap,” she said.
Family members say Stokes was a friend of the girl’s father, Phillip Morris. The distraught father yelled at Stokes during an initial hearing Wednesday.
“You said you love me? Where’s my baby at?” Morris yelled.
Thanks to loyal reader Terrell for the tip.
