Australian waitress, 29, who vanished in London two weeks ago – before sending pals ‘cryptic’ texts – is found safe and well
An Australian waitress who disappeared from a backpackers hostel in south London two weeks ago – before sending friends a series of ‘out of character’ text messages when they asked where she was – has been found safe and sound.
Jessica Parkinson, 29, was first reported missing by her father on Sunday, December 8, after being unable to contact relatives on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Greenwich MPS confirmed this afternoon that she had been found safe and well.
A spokesperson said: ‘Following a number of inquiries and support from Sussex Police, Jessica Parkinson has now been found safe and well. Thank you to everyone who helped with the search.”
Police have also urged the public to be aware of a ‘bitcoin donation link’ linked to the appeal to find Ms Parkinson.
They added: ‘We urge you not to donate or continue forwarding the link unless you can confirm that it is official.’
On Wednesday, December 11, Ms. Parkinson failed to show up for a 4 p.m. shift at Texas Joes, the barbecue restaurant where she has worked for the past year.
When managers texted to ask where she was, she claimed she had misunderstood her start time – and promised to be ‘there’ at 5pm.
But she didn’t show up as promised – and hasn’t been heard from since she sent a ‘cryptic’ message to another colleague later that evening.
Last Friday she was reported missing for the second time after missing three shifts in a row.
Australian waitress Jessica Parkinson (pictured), who disappeared from a south London hostel, has now been found
Three days later she didn’t show up at Texas Joes. When asked where she was, she told the managers she would be “there” at 5 p.m., but she never showed up
The waitress was first reported missing by her father on December 8 after being unable to contact relatives
Her manager Joe described her as ‘reliable’ and ‘very smart, outgoing and friendly’
Restaurant owner Joe Walters told MailOnline: ‘Jess was due to work on Wednesday, and she was due to start at four o’clock.
‘Around that time our manager messaged asking where she was, and she replied saying she thought she was home at 5pm and would be there shortly. That was very strange for her.
‘She didn’t show up, but sent a cryptic message to another employee that evening. She did not mention the missing work.
‘Then she didn’t show up for work on Thursday and when she didn’t show up on Friday I contacted her father in Australia.
“He told me the police had been alerted and it is being dealt with by the missing persons unit.”
“She is very reliable and we have a close relationship,” Joe added. “She’s very smart, outgoing and friendly.”
She had recently had problems with her housing and had been evicted from an apartment building and was therefore living in a hostel.
‘She wasn’t very happy with the situation, I imagine, so we tried to help her find something, but we didn’t make any progress. She was busy about it at the time.
‘She went back to Australia for the holidays and said she might stay there until March to get things together and then come back, but no one in Australia has heard from her.