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Missing St. Petersburg mother and daughter not kidnapped or attacked, investigators say

The two were last seen on Wednesday
Posted at 3:16 PM, Jul 26, 2020
and last updated 2020-07-29 11:29:43-04

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — During a news conference, Tuesday morning, Investigators said they have proof that Angela Jolley and her 19-year-old daughter, Alexis, were not kidnapped or attacked.

“At no point in this investigation thus far have we had any reason to believe that Angela or Alexis have been harmed," said Sgt. Kevin Haemmelmann.

Angela was supposed to be at work by 6:30 a.m. Thursday. Instead, detectives say she and her daughter are on surveillance video cleaning Angela’s Camry, loading it up with their dogs, and leaving together.

Around 6:51 a.m. they are on video at an ATM. Detectives said Angela withdrew money and moved “some around” to different accounts.

They tracked Angela’s car in Valdosta, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi all on the same day.

Investigators believe they spent the night in Mississippi because the Camry is seen leaving Mississippi and entering Tennessee at 7:09 a.m. Friday.

We spoke to Alexis’ sister Desiree Cook after the news conference. She said she was shocked and wasn’t sure how to take the new information.

“I’ve been going crazy, worrying and fearing the worse,” she said. “But it seems like they’re fine. They could have at least told us."

“Now I don’t know what’s going to happen. There’s no need to search for them if they’re in Tennessee," she said.

An ABC Action News crew saw investigators at their house Monday, the 27. They left with two brown paper bags. They wouldn’t comment on what was inside the bags, but they say there are no signs of a struggle or foul play.

Angela and Alexis were last seen Wednesday night, according to police.

“I don’t understand. I just want them to come home,” said Cook.

Cook is Alexis’ half-sister. She said they reconnected about two years ago.

They were supposed to spend the weekend together, but instead, Cook and about 20 other people gathered at Raymond H. Neri Community Park for day two of their search on Sunday.

“It’s really hard,” said Cook.

St. Pete police said Angela’s boss at the VA Hospital got worried when she didn’t show up to work. They sent a co-worker to her house to check on her but no one answered the door or phone.

Family friend Daniella Lopreste said that was a red flag for her.

“Angela had meetings on her schedule,” she said. “It’s not like her to not show up.”

Their concerns grew when they found Angela and Alexis’ phones in their house. But, their dark blue 2018 Toyota Camry and their dogs were gone, along with them. St. Pete Police say the car can appear black in color depending on how the sun hits it.

"They’re very cheerful and hardworking,” Cook said. “For them to just disappear is not like them at all.”