KEYSTONE HEIGHTS, Fla. – Investigators hoping for new leads in the disappearance of a 25-year-old Clay County woman continued scouring the rough, wooded terrain of Little Rain Lake Park Saturday, nearly a week after Jordan Cooper was last seen in the Keystone Heights area.
Detectives said Cooper has the mental capacity of a young teenager, which makes the search and rescue efforts even more urgent.
The Sheriff's Office said Saturday's search efforts were more localized in a few small, specific areas.
Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission joined the search Friday, and a Customs and Border Protection helicopter returned to help from the air. A deputy who used to work the Keystone Heights area and knows the land well area is in the helicopter, authorities said.
Investigators said they believe Cooper was near the park before she disappeared and they're looking into information that her cellphone might be with her and still turned on.
Deputies said Cooper disappeared 2 miles from the street where she lives, and they're asking anyone who might have seen her to call the Sheriff's Office at 904-264-6512 or 352-473-7211.
Family and friends were passing out flyers to help find Cooper, and, deputies said, members of the community can help by sharing Cooper's picture with the hashtag #FindJordan or calling the Sheriff's Office.
Janie Phillips is one of several Keystone Heights residents helping in the search for Cooper. She told News4Jax that she knew Cooper’s mother from her days working at the Clay County School Board.
“It breaks my heart because the mother of that child was one of my students and one of my coworkers when I worked for the Clay County School Board,” Phillips said.
Cooper's family is at a loss as to where she could have gone.
"This is nothing like Jordan, and she’s never done anything like this," cousin Michael Perry said. "I just want to know that she’ll be alright. I want to know if she left on her own accord. If she did, nobody’s mad and we just want to know that she’s OK.”
Investigators said Friday that the high temperatures and sandy, heavily wooded areas of the park are making it difficult for searchers on foot. They're using all-terrain vehicles to get as deep into the woods as they can before they start walking through the woods.
“We have officers who are all over the place going over these woodlines," Clay County Sheriff's Office Deputy Chris Padgett said. "It’s not ideal circumstances, but at the end of the day, it’s what we have to do to ensure (the) safety of Jordan."
The search area expanded again Friday, but deputies said some areas are being searched again, in case anything was missed. A mobile command center has also been set up for the effort.
Detectives said there is no significant evidence that she is out here, but it’s a place where they feel they need to be searching.
Investigators said they're not asking for volunteers because they're concerned about disturbing the woods and throwing off K-9 teams that are out looking for Cooper.
They said if anyone would like to help with the search effort, water, food and supplies can be donated by calling 904-264-6512.
Investigators said they do want people to continue sharing Cooper’s photo on social media using #FindJordan. Investigators believe the more her picture is shared, the better the chances are someone will recognize her.