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Family of missing girl hopes public can help bring closure after reopening of 30-year-old cold case [photos, video]

Staff by Robin Rudd/ Hamilton County District Attorney Neal Pinkston gives Darrell Stewart And Nonie Sturdivant their first look at photos of person of interest Jeffery Jones. Jones, who his deceased, is a suspect in the disappearance of Tonetta Carlisle. Sturdivant is Tonetta's mother and Stewart is Tonetta's brother. Staff by Robin Rudd/ Hamilton County District Attorney Neal Pinkston gives Darrell Stewart And Nonie Sturdivant their first look at photos of person of interest Jeffery Jones. Jones, who his deceased, is a suspect in the disappearance of Tonetta Carlisle. Sturdivant is Tonetta's mother and Stewart is Tonetta's brother.

By Rosana Hughes August 29, 2019 1 min read

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Missing girl

Sturdivant thinks Jeffrey Jones killed her daughter before killing himself. Contributed photo.

Thirteen years after her daughter Tonetta's disappearance, Nonie Sturdivant still holds out hope Tonetta may return. Tonetta disappeared on the way home from school in 1989, the same day a witness reported seeing a girl fitting Tonetta's description forced into a car.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ Tonetta Carlisle's mother Nonie Sturdivant discusses the recent developments in the case of her daughter's disappearance. Standing beside Ms. Sturdivant is Tonetta's brother, Darrell Stewart. The Hamilton County District Attorney office announced the reopening of a cold case. Tonetta Carlisle was 15-years old when she disappeared on March 16, 1989. Jeffery Jones was listed as a person-of-interest during the press conference held on August 29, 2019.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ Tonetta Carlisle's brother Darrell Stewart asks the community to help in gathering information on his sister's disappearance. Standing beside Mr. Stewart is Tonetta's mother, Nonie Sturdivant. The Hamilton County District Attorney office announced the reopening of a cold case. Tonetta Carlisle was 15-years old when she disappeared on March 16, 1989. Jeffery Jones was listed as a person-of-interest during the press conference held on August 29, 2019.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ Tonetta Carlisle's mother Nonie Sturdivant seeks to control her emotions as Tonetta's brother, Darrell Stewart ask for the community to help in his sister's case. The Hamilton County District Attorney office announced the reopening of a cold case. Tonetta Carlisle was 15-years old when she disappeared on March 16, 1989. Jeffery Jones was listed as a person-of-interest during the press conference held on August 29, 2019.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ Chattanooga Police Sergeant Vincent Holoman, of the missing persons unit, talks to the media about the case of Tonetta Carlisle. Standing behind a photo of Tonetta are her brother Darrell Stewart, and mother Nonie Sturdivant. The Hamilton County District Attorney office announced the reopening of a cold case. Tonetta Carlisle was 15-years old when she disappeared on March 16, 1989. Jeffery Jones was listed as a person-of-interest during the press conference held on August 29, 2019.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ Chattanooga Police Sergeant Vincent Holoman, right, of the missing persons unit, talks to Darrell Stewart, and Nonie Sturdivant after a press conference. Mr. Stewart is the brother, and Ms. Sturdivant is the mother of Tonetta Carlisle. The Hamilton County District Attorney office announced the reopening of a cold case. Tonetta Carlisle was 15-years old when she disappeared on March 16, 1989. Jeffery Jones was listed as a person-of-interest during the press conference held on August 29, 2019.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ Tonetta Carlisle is pictured in this family photo. The Hamilton County District Attorney office announced the reopening of a cold case. Tonetta Carlisle was 15-years old when she disappeared on March 16, 1989. Jeffery Jones was listed as a person-of-interest during the press conference held on August 29, 2019.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ Hamilton County Distric Attorney Neal Pinkston speaks to the media about the cold case of Tonetta Carlisle. The Hamilton County District Attorney office announced the reopening of a cold case. Tonetta Carlisle was 15-years old when she disappeared on March 16, 1989. Jeffery Jones was listed as a person-of-interest during the press conference held on August 29, 2019.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ Tonetta Carlisle's brother, Darrell Stewart comforts his mother Nonie Sturdivant during a press conference discussing the recent developments in the case of Tonetta's disappearance. The Hamilton County District Attorney office announced the reopening of a cold case. Tonetta Carlisle was 15-years old when she disappeared on March 16, 1989. Jeffery Jones was listed as a person-of-interest during the press conference held on August 29, 2019.

It’s been 30 years since Nonie Sturdivant last saw her daughter.

Fifteen-year-old Tonetta Carlisle was walking home from school when she went missing on March 15, 1989. She was last seen at 615 Hamilton Ave., the location of what used to be Chattanooga High School. She didn’t have a long way to go, as she lived on the same street. When she didn’t come home later that evening, Sturdivant called Chattanooga police.

A couple told police they’d seen a young black woman being forced into a car by a black man near the intersection of Hamilton Avenue and Dallas Road at about 3 p.m. that same day. The couple followed the car and took down its information before losing sight of it. But the two incidents weren’t connected until much later.

It wasn’t until a week after Carlisle had been missing that police asked for help locating her. On March 22, 1989, police told reporters they believed she was with a boyfriend in the Alton Park area and did not suspect foul play in her disappearance, according to Times Free Press archives.