MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Manitowoc Police Department is hoping newly released age-progressed photos of a missing woman can help bring closure to the nearly 30-year-old mystery of her disappearance.
Jean Jape, a mother of two, hasn’t been seen by her family or friends since November 1997, when she was 38 years old.
“We all miss you, we all love you and we just want to know that you’re okay. We just want you home,” Jape’s daughter, Melissa Scharenbroch, pleaded.
At the time of her disappearance, Jape and her daughter were living with Jape’s parents in the 600 block of South 26th Street in Manitowoc.
“I just remember I had stayed at a friend’s house for the weekend, and we were kind of living with my grandparents at the time. My mom had said that she was going to go stay at a friend’s house for the weekend. And that was the very last thing that I heard of her, from her, any of that,” said Scharenbroch.
About one month later, Scharenbroch said she got a letter that appeared to be from her mother.
“In the letter, the one that was addressed to me, she did say that when she settled down, she was going to let me come stay with her if I wanted to,” Scharenbroch said.
Because of that letter, Manitowoc police say Jape’s family canceled the missing person report. But while authorities always knew Jape was still missing almost three decades later, it wasn’t until this past fall that the case was picked up again.
Last week, police released age progression photos of Jape — hoping someone knows what happened to her and will come forward.
Jean Jape original photo vs. age progression photo (Photo courtesy: Manitowoc Police Department)
Jean Jape original photo vs. age progression photo (Photo courtesy: Manitowoc Police Department)
“We’re doing this for her family. Her family wants to know what happened and where she is. So, I’m hoping that we will get some positive leads and some investigative leads that lead to some closure in this,” said Capt. Cooper Schmidt with the Manitowoc Police Department.
Police say at the time of her disappearance, Jape was dating Robert Darrel Davidson. He was wanted on sexual assault charges out of Milwaukee at the time. Davidson has also been missing for about 30 years, just like Jape.
“The two had disappeared roughly at the same time, with warrants being issued for Mr. Davidson shortly after,” Schmidt said. “So, it is most certainly suspicious timing, but again, we are trying to locate both.”
While police say Jape may have disappeared with Davidson, she is not in trouble with the law. They just want answers about why she disappeared and to be able to bring her home.
“We would all like to just be able to see her again,” said Scharenbroch. “Just any bit of closure at this point, any kind of answers would help us all a lot.”
If you have information about Jape, contact Detective Eric Schultz at (920) 686-3599 or Schmidt at (920) 686-6585. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling (920) 683-4466 or utilizing the P3 tips app.
When Jape disappeared, she was 38 years old with dark brown hair and blue eyes. She is a white female, 5-foot-2 and 165 pounds. Possible aliases include Jean Schleis or Jean Janowski.
