Search for Lansing Township man missing for months now involves private investigator

LANSING TOWNSHIP -- Police haven't given up on their search for a Lansing Township man who has been missing for more than three months.

The missing man's girlfriend hasn't given up either.

She's five months pregnant with the couple's second child and relying on a private investigator to find answers from a separate investigation.

"The fact we don't know what happened leaves your mind wondering," said Jasmine Hill, girlfriend of 27-year-old Jerome Deshaun Ezell.

Police said Ezell was last seen at about 10:45 a.m. Nov. 7 driving a white Chevrolet Equinox in the 500 block of South Clemens Avenue.

The vehicle was found by Hill about 7:50 p.m. that day in the 1100 block of North Fairview Avenue, east of Fairview Park, in the township's Groesbeck Neighborhood.

Hill found Jionni, the couple's then 5-month-old son, inside the vehicle sitting in his car seat. He was found in good condition.

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A lack of progress in the search prompted Hill to hire Jason McCausey, a Perrinton, Mich.-based private investigator.

Since early January, McCausey said Tuesday he's interviewed over 50 people and conducted background checks of Ezell's friends and family members.

Based on interviews, McCausey said he's received tips from people with ties ranging from Detroit to Florida.

"We’re keeping hope alive that Jerome is still alive and well," McCausey said, "but at the same time, we want to provide that closure to the family as well.”

Ezell has five children with women from previous relationships who have assisted in the search, Hill said.

McCausey's investigation is separate from the one Lansing Township police have kept open since November. Township police have received assistance from Lansing police, the Michigan State Police and FBI.

Once Ezell was reported missing last fall, police searched a wooded area where the vehicle was found with cadaver dogs and used night vision equipment.

“Until we absolutely know, we’re not deeming (Ezell) anything other than missing right now," township Police Chief Adam Kline said Tuesday.

Ezell is described by police as a 5-foot-4, 170-pound black male who was last seen wearing wheat-colored Timberland boots, black jeans, a red shirt and a black leather jacket over it. He may answer to the name "Roni" or "E," police said.

Hill said she's held several fundraisers to help pay for the private investigator and formed search parties throughout the Lansing region.

As of Tuesday, a GoFundMe account Hill created to support her cause raised $2,644.

“I still have the faith that he’s alive," Hill said. "It’s just all about finding him.”

State Police Det. Sgt. Sarah Krebs, who supervises the state police's Missing Persons Coordination Unit, is familiar with the Ezell case and is of the belief all authorities have done their best to find him.

"Now what they need is a cooperating witness," Krebs said Tuesday. "You know that person is out there."

Anyone with information about Ezell is encouraged to call police at (517) 485-1700.

Eric Lacy is a reporter for the Lansing State Journal. Contact him at 517-377-1206 or elacy@lsj.com.