Alexis Jones-Rhodes, a 22-year-old student at Clark Atlanta University has gone missing and she reportedly vanished as she was on her way to her graduation ceremony.
Jones-Rhodes, has been missing since she drove away from her Decatur, Georgia home during the early morning hours of Monday, May 18, 2015.
She left wearing her cap and gown and told her family she was headed?to sign in to commencement activities but when her family arrived to watch her walk across the stage, she wasn’t there.
And to make matters worse, the college has since revealed that Jones-Rhodes?wasn’t even eligible to graduate, so she would not have participated in this year’s commencement ceremony.
More details below…
When the family headed to Panther Stadium later that day to watch Alexis walk across the stage, she never did – and they have not seen her since. Clark Atlanta University?has since said that Jones-Rhodes was not eligible to graduate.
According to Fox5:
Clark-Atlanta University released a statement saying it was ‘highly unlikely’ that the cap and gown Jones-Rhodes had was ordered through the school,?Fox5?reported.
‘The University’s cap and gown orders are generated based upon ELIGIBILITY to graduate,’ it explained.
‘We know that Ms. Jones-Rhodes’ name was not on the official list forwarded for 2015 commencement orders. We also have no record of her having paid the fees to cover that purchase.’
It added: ‘We are prayerful for a swift and safe reunion between Ms. Rhodes and her family.’
Jones-Rhodes’ mother, Nicole Johnson, said she has no idea where her daughter could be.
‘It’s been awful,’ she said as she spoke to Fox5. ‘It’s taken a lot out of me and it’s taken a lot just to stand up here.’
She pleaded with her daughter to let the family know she is safe.
‘If it’s in her power you know, Alexis if you can do it, just please come home. I just want to say AJ just please, please, come home,’ Johnson said.
She said that her daughter, who also goes by AJ or Lexi, had been a?fashion merchandise Major at Clark-Atlanta University.
She thinks her daughter left home around 4am so she could make the 6am check in at the school’s student center, the?Atlanta Journal Constitution?reported.
Her father, John Rhodes, added to the AJC: ‘We just hope she?s in a safe place and that things turn out OK. You have to hold out hope.’
It’s been over 3 days since the young lady disappeared and?DeKalb County police have launched an investigation.
She was last seen wearing a white dress and driving a black 2006 Hyundai Accent with a Georgia tag of BPC6177, police said. She is 5’5″ tall and weighs 127 pounds.
While there has been no talk of foul play, Jones-Rhodes?was?once in the news as?the victim of an armed robbery on the Clark Atlanta campus?back in 2012. ?After being robbed by 4 armed men, Alexis and ?her mother both spoke about safety issues on the campus.
VIDEO: Alexis Rhodes-Jones Speaks on Robbery (News Footage)
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Alexis Jones-Rhodes or her car is asked to call the DeKalb County Police Department on?770-724-7710 or 911.
*** UPDATE: (05/21/15 4:10pm) DeKalb County Police say Alexis-Jones Rhodes has been located safe in Illinois. No foul play is suspected and no further details have been released.