A new tip late last month has prompted James City County Police to make a public request for assistance in finding a woman missing since at least April.
Authorities in both Virginia Beach and James City County are looking for Juliann Crystal Hobbs, 38, who was last seen around 1:30 p.m. March 11 when she was dropped off by an acquaintance at the end of Sycamore Landing Road.
James City County Police spokeswoman Stephanie Williams said Hobbs suffers from a cognitive condition that poses a credible threat to her health and safety.
Williams said Hobbs was not dropped off at a residence on Sycamore Landing Road, just at the end of the street.
The road runs along the York River above York River State Park and is surrounded by woods, creeks and marsh, according to a satellite view on Google Maps.
Additional information about the relationship of the “acquaintance” to Hobbs was not immediately available.
Williams said the family then notified James City County Police that Hobbs was last seen March 11 on Sycamore Landing Road.
The “acquaintance” that dropped Hobbs off called her family in late July to tell them he dropped her off. The family then sent the tip to county police, who worked to confirm various details of the case with Virginia Beach Police.
On Tuesday, James City County Police confirmed Hobbs was dropped off in the county.
“It’s been challenging to — with multiple acquaintances and the family being far away — to put all the pieces together,” Williams said.
Virginia Beach Police originally received a missing persons report for Hobbs in April. At that time, Williams said Hobbs’ medical conditions were not disclosed, meaning her case didn’t meet the criteria to be entered into the National Crime Information Center and Virginia Criminal Information Network systems.
“It’s your right as an adult to disappear — that’s your choice,” Williams said. “If I want to disappear tomorrow, typically unless there are certain circumstances met … then they’re not able to be entered into the NCIC VCIN.”
Those circumstances include the missing person having a disability, being endangered, being taken involuntarily, or going missing after a catastrophe.
Hobbs is about 5-foot-8 and 135 pounds. She is not considered a danger to others.
Those with information on Hobbs’ disappearance or her whereabouts should contact James City County Police at 757-566-0112 or the Virginia Beach Police Department at 757-873-1554.
