Search for Answers Continues in Murder of Armada Teen

Pink ribbons and “justice for April Millsap” signs are cropping up all over the Macomb County town of Armada, where residents are struggling to comprehend the murder of the 14-year-old whose body was discovered by two joggers in a ditch along a popular recreational trail Thursday.

April’s dog, Penny, led the joggers to her body. Her mother had reported her missing Thursday when she failed to come home.

The discovery of the soon-to-be Armada High School freshman’s body and hunt for the killer or killers, now in its fifth day, the community remains on edge.

“It’s very unnerving to know that something so awful happened so close to home,” Jennifer Gregg, whose daughter went to school with April, told WJBK, Channel 2.

April’s mother, Jennifer Millsap, 43, is barely hanging on, according to a friend, Patti El-Yafouri, who spoke with WDIV, Channel 4.

“She is so depressed, you know, the only thing she keeps saying is, ‘Patti, I can’t live without her.’ I’m like, ‘Darling, you have to.”

“I’m just existing,” Jennifer Millsap told the Detroit Free Press, speaking through a screen door. “I’m barely hanging on.”

As the investigation into the murder of the soon-to-be freshman at Armada High School continues, authorities have ruled out her family and her boyfriend, The Detroit News reports.

Police aren’t saying how she was murdered, but said she was neither shot nor stabbed.

“As this investigation narrows its focus, detectives continue to speak with April’s family and her boyfriend, but they are not considered suspects in her death,” Lt. Michael Shaw of the Michigan State Police said in a statement.

The task force, which also includes the FBI, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office and Armada Police Department. are focusing their efforts on finding two motor vehicles seen in the vicinity of the Macomb Orchard Trail around the time April was killed – a dented gray box van occupied by two men, and also a small blue and white motorcycle, operated by a younger man.

Also of significant interest to investigators is a text message that was sent from April’s phone to her boyfriend. The Associated Press reported that it said, “Omg … I think I’m being kidnapped,” but Shaw said that’s not accurate, Detroit Free Press reports.

Shaw declined to reveal the contents of the text message or the date it was sent.

Funeral, Visitation Set

A funeral service for the teen, who would have been a freshman at Armada High School this fall, will be be held at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Mary Mystical Rose Catholic Church, 24040 Armada Ridge Road, according to a post on the family-created Justice for April Facebook page.

Visitation will be held from 2-8 p.m. Thursday at Tiffany-Young and Hauss Funeral Home, 73919 Fulton.More than $10,000 has been raised to offset funeral expenses on GoFundMe.

Donations to help the family will also be accepted at a concert from 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Armada Memorial Park. The hometown band Killer Vibe will be performing at the already-scheduled Music in the Park series.

“We feel saddened and angry that this has happened to this young girl, and we would like to do our part to help,” band member Joe Ridenour posted on the Justice for April page.

Grief-stricken family and friends are also using Twitter to pass along information, using the hashtag, #ArmadasAngel.

How to Submit Tips

Anyone with information is asked to call the police tip line at (877) 616-4677. Tips may also be submitted online.

Experts with the FBI in Quantico, VA, have been consulted, The Detroit News reports.

Suspects may include people who have shown an excessive interest in the case or may have unexplained absences from their normal daily activities.

Police have released a sketch of a person of interest in the slaying. Shaw said at a news conference Sunday that the sketch is of a person who was seen on the trail the night April was killed. He is white and has sandy brown or reddish hair.

Earlier Tuesday, family members issued a plea to be respectful with their tips on the Justice for April Facebook page.

“We know that everyone wants to see April’s killer caught,” the family posted. “That being said, this page is for support and updates, if you have a person of interest, please send that picture or information to the police. We do not want pictures of suspects on here, especially kids. We appreciate how much everyone wants to help find this person, but wrongfully posting a picture of someone’s child is not ok, even if you believe strongly that that person may have committed the crime. The proper action to take is to contact the police. Thank you for your understanding.”

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Photo: The family of April Millsap has created a Facebook page for information about the murder of the 14-year-old Armada teen. (Photo: Facebook)