December 12, 2003

Marquis Jobes found

I had previously posted (here and here) about Marquis Jobes, a 13-year old boy who has been missing since early November. His body was located today, and apparently he has been dead for a while.

I initially took interest in this story because it was yet another case where a minority child from a lower-income family who had disappeared with little fanfare outside the local press. I was actually somewhat surprised that the case hadn't attracted more attention. The boy's mother had been found dead, and police thought that her boyfriend may have killed her and taken the boy. There was considerable concern for Marquis' safety, as the boyfriend was considered to be violent.

A few days after Marquis went missing and his mother's body was found, however, the boyfriend was found, having been shot to death. Since that time no one has had any idea what happened to Marquis. I have to wonder if the case had gotten more exposure if, perhaps, Marquis might have been found before he died. Obviously, that's not something I can know at this point, and it may never be known, but the whole situation just really upsets me because it seems like we only ever hear about the rich, white girls who disappear and not any of the other kids, unless something truly spectacular has happened.

In any event, it's very sad news to hear that Marquis is dead. The police have said that the tip they got which led them to Marquis' body will also lead them to an arrest in the case. I hope it does.

Thanks to Cat Phillips for posting the link to this story in my comments!

Posted by thorswitch at December 12, 2003 04:50 PM | TrackBack


Comments

MARQUIS AND CIARA JOBES IS BOTH MY COUSINS. I MISS THEM BOTH. I' HAPPY YOU FOUND MY COUSIN BUT I'M MAD YOU FOUND HIM THE WAY YOU DID. MY FAMILY IS ALL MAD ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON. LIFE IS CRAZY AND I PRAY TO GOD THAT NOTHING ELSE HAPPEN, IF SOMETHING DO HAPPEN I HOPE IT IS GOOD.

Posted by: CORINNA JOBES at December 15, 2003 08:23 AM

:(

Posted by: Kynn at December 15, 2003 08:35 PM

I am sorry to hear that Marquis, was found dead. When the news about his abduction was fresh in everyone's mind, I feel the public did not treat this case like other cases. It was like the case had been forgotten. There IS a major difference when it comes to missing persons... Meaning Money talks.. Color speaks even louder.....When will the value of All human lives be EQUALLY VALUED ?

Posted by: shelley at December 16, 2003 10:29 AM

Corrina,
i was MARQUIS ANTON JOBES, gurlfriend and he stays in my heart. Diz boy name Xavier, was like "U a Widow, U a Widow........Now bow down and worship ur master......(Marquis he was referring 2)

Posted by: Ashlee Banks at December 20, 2003 07:46 PM

Marquis was my ex-boyfriend (if u can even call it a boyfriend in 3rd grade) and a good friend of mine. We went to Fox Elementary together. I still cannot believe that he is dead and ny heart is broken. Even though we head some issues in 5th or 6th grade, I still thought that he was a nice boy and everything. I miss him so much.....

Posted by: Ave at December 28, 2003 07:35 PM

Marquis was my ex-boyfriend (if u can even call it a boyfriend in 3rd grade) and a good friend of mine. We went to Fox Elementary together. I still cannot believe that he is dead and ny heart is broken. Even though we head some issues in 5th or 6th grade, I still thought that he was a nice boy and everything. I miss him so much.....

Posted by: Ave at December 28, 2003 07:36 PM

You are SO RIGHT about the press only focusing on the rich white kids! And it's not just a black/white thing, either. It's all minorities - Hispanic, Asian, Indian...

I wonder what we, as consumers of news media, can do to recitify the situation?

Posted by: Jennelle at January 18, 2004 09:48 AM

I think maybe it is not so much a question of media, as it is a question of society. Abductions are just one of many cases where the spotlight seems to shine brighter on one group. Take murder for example: in my city, if a black person is murdered, the media spends (maybe) ten seconds on the story. When a non-black (white and including asian and hispanic) are murdered, it is the top story and at least 2 minutes are dedicated to it.
I think the majority (and I don't mean MORE PEOPLE...I mean the people who "set the trends") of society look at certain groups with a pre-set notion of what that group is all about. I think there is a pre-set notion that you should just expect murder victims to be black. You should just expect serial killers to be white males (which screwed the FBI when one of their serial killers was a white FEMALE). You should expect that all hispanics speak Spanish (not all do). You should expect that all lower-income familes are illiterate (I know plenty of low-income families where both parents are college graduates).
I think these "assumptions" guide our society. When we ALL can be realistic in our expections of other people...then I think the world will change for the better...until then...EXPECT things will remain the way they are now.

Posted by: David at February 4, 2004 04:22 PM

This is outrageous. Did anyone follow the Christa Rolanger disappearance? She ran away from home in VA and the Washington Post, all the VA papers, and even AMW featured her. Marquis, nothing. Pisses me off. He may have been found if the media had put this on the air.

Posted by: Angie at February 4, 2004 05:27 PM

Please find the most recent news reports regarding the murders of Marquis Jobes, Tasha Robinson, and Anthony Rankine:

http://www.nbc12.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WWBT%2FMGArticle%2FWBT_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031773519500&path=!news!archive

Also, in response to Angie: Marquis was profiled on America's Most Wanted two weeks after his disappearance: http://www.wric.com/Global/story.asp?s= 1517535

Posted by: Anonymous at February 8, 2004 10:29 AM

I miss Marquis .But he is in a far better place. I am Ashlee Banks friend and I'm the one who got them together.We all miss Marquis me,Ashlee,Xavier,Manny,OT,Nia and Doug.Marquis REST IN PEACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Ashley C at February 20, 2004 05:35 PM

I miss Marquis .But he is in a far better place. I am Ashlee Banks friend and I'm the one who got them together.We all miss Marquis me,Ashlee,Xavier,Manny,OT,Nia and Doug.Marquis REST IN PEACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Ashley C at February 20, 2004 05:36 PM

Marquis, dis your girl LISA, and I just wanted to let you know that we MISS YOU here at Falling Creek. Eversince you left, i feel like i have an empty space in my HEART, but i know that you are in a BETTER PLACE and you are LIVING the GOOD LIFE.death must be EASY cuz life is HARD. you will NEVER be forgotten. you will ALWAYZ remain in our HEART, SOUL , AND MIND. WE ALL LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU!!!!!!
ALWAYZ,
LISA

Posted by: Lisa O. at February 21, 2004 01:15 PM

marquis jobes was my best friend and he will always be in my heart. i know him because he was in my 6 and 7 period. he was a cool friend and now that he is heaven i hope him all my wishes

Posted by: Backner Chioin at February 25, 2004 06:50 PM