Community Unites in New Search for Missing Teen Nevaeh Kingbird
Sparking hope amidst uncertainty, hundreds join local agencies in a two-day search event
BEMIDJI- ”What we have to keep doing is hoping—that’s why we keep doing this. We can’t lose sight of hope and our family members we lost,” said Theresa Jourdain before the start of the search for missing teen Neveah Kingbird.
The 2 day search event for Neveah Kingbird took place in Bemidji, MN, September 25th and 26th, covering over 150 acres and gathered 100+ search volunteers, many of whom are Kingbirds relatives and friends. Agencies who participated in the search included; the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, MN MMIR office, MMIW 218, Jon Francis Foundation, BIA, Missing Children Minnesota, Bemidji Fire Department, Leech Lake and Red Lake Tribal Police Departments, Central Lakes Search and Rescue, seven K-9 teams and more.
This is the 13th search conducted for Neveah since her disappearance on October 22nd, 2021. Nevaeh was 15 years old when she was last seen leaving a residence in Southview Terrace Park, Bemidji. Nevaeh is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall and 120 pounds with black hair that had blonde highlights when she disappeared and wearing a red sweatshirt and jeans.
Teddi Wind, Neveah’s mother who addressed the volunteers, shared how seeing people come together for not only Neveah but other families in the community who are still searching for answers helped her see she wasn’t alone in her experience.
“To see everyone come together to try and help me, and help the other families find their loved ones, I just — it sparked some hope into me,”
Searchers looked for any clue related to Nevaeh’s disappearance, but also kept their eyes out for any signs for two other teens who went missing from the Bemidji community within the last decade. Jeremy Jourdain disappeared from Bemidji in 2017, and Damon Boyd who vanished from East Grand Forks on his way to Bemidji in 2014.
Bemidji police say detectives have followed up on numerous leads over the past two years, but have been unable to provide answers for Nevaeh’s family.
Anyone who may have information on what happened to Nevaeh Kingbird is asked to contact Bemidji police at 218-333-9111 or CrimeStoppers Minnesota via the organization’s website.