Deputies in Rankin County are searching for 16-year-old John Michael Jones, a Brandon resident and Hartfield Academy student who has been missing since Saturday night. According to authorities, Jones was last seen at his home around 8:30 pm on October 26, wearing blue shorts and a white T-shirt. Deputies also noted that a black backpack was missing from his room.

Authorities were notified of Jones’ disappearance on Sunday, October 27. Although investigators did not report any evidence of foul play, they emphasize that the teenager had been struggling with depression following the recent deaths of his father and grandparents. Family members fear he may have been considering self-harm, given his recent emotional difficulties.

The Rankin County Sheriff’s Office dispatched the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) to issue a Purple Alert in hopes of locating Jones. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact local law enforcement or the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office at 601-825-1480.