Real Life Nancy Drew: 12-Year-Old Girl Solves Burglary and Confronts Suspects
- Posted on August 20, 2011 at 4:16pm by
Christopher Santarelli
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For the last 13 summers Georgia’s Fulton County District Attorney has conducted the Junior DA Program, a crime prevention and educational program designed to provide rising seventh-grade students an overview of the criminal justice system. One of the program’s recent graduates has already put what she learned into practice, using the detective skills and knowledge of the criminal justice system that she was taught this past summer to gather clues and pinpoint the culprit that burglarized the home of her great-grandmother. ABC News reports on Jessica Maple, the 12-year-old Atlanta girl who claims to have found and got a confession from the burglar who ransacked a home that has been in her family for 70 years:
“‘The windows were broken. There were finger prints by the glass. Everything was ramshackled. There were clothes everywhere.’
Not only did Jessica find a crucial clue police missed, but she took it one step further by visiting a pawn shop down the street.
Sure enough, she found her great-grandmother’s furniture for sale.
‘They weren’t thinking,’ she said of the robbers. ‘They put everything in the same shop!”
The two men who sold the furniture are frequent clients of the pawn shop, and the manager gave Maple their identification. Maple claims to have gone with her mother to the home of one of the suspects to confront him on the crime:
“‘We went up to him and I asked him why he did it,’ Jessica said. ‘At first he denied it, but then he confessed.”
After taking on the role of detective herself in finding clues and ultimately tracking down the burglars who robbed her great-grandmother, Maple is asking police to step up and do the one thing she can’t; arrest the suspects. Atlanta Journal Constitution on where the case stands:
“‘It’s been a month and five days, and they haven’t been arrested,’ Jessica said. “It’s really frustrating. If you have all of the evidence right there, why can’t you go arrest them?”
The crime took place in southern Fitzgerald, Georgia, outside of Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard’s jurisdiction. While Howard is unable to move the case forward, he is proud of Maple.
“It was incredible. She was so bright and such a great personality,” he said to ABC News. “I’m sure the police are probably a little bit embarrassed.”
“These young people are a testament to what is good about our youth,” Howard told the AJC. “Jessica showed initiative and zeal and in the process, helped to create a better society by assisting police in their quest to get two criminals off the street. Her future is bright.”
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Comments (76)
Carol Ingian
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 8:15pmGood job! I hope her family invests in an alarm system. The police should have moved right in to get the thieves if it is such a clear case!
Report Post »El Paso Girl
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 7:30pmWow !!!!!!!! What a smart investigator she is. I hope you continue to become a detective. We need more people like you!!!!!!!!!!!! Why have the police not arrested the two bums?????? More Power to you Sweet Heart !!!!!!!!
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 7:56pm.
Report Post »You go girl!
Be proud, study hard, and nothing will stop you!
Jaycen
Posted on August 21, 2011 at 12:17amThis was a great story. The young lady and her grandmother have guts!
Report Post »fastfacts
Posted on August 21, 2011 at 4:01amYOU KNOW ANOTHER YOUNG GIRL I ADMIRE IS ELIZABETH SMART…
After all that she went through with her kidnapper, she came back and stood up against him in court and then went out and talked to other victims and non-victim young women and spoke out about their safety. She became a spokesperson for young women everywhere and she was around 12 when she stood up to the kidnapper and gave herself to save her little sister. Check it out, this is bravery: http://www.americanparchment.com/video/2010/jan/elizabeth_smart_day_in_court.html
Report Post »one years food ration like glenn says
Posted on August 21, 2011 at 8:54amNot only did Jessica find a crucial clue police missed, but she took it one step further by visiting a pawn shop down the street. They have to teach this ? WOW, In 89 I had drums stolen from my car and the first thing I did was check pawn shops and at the 2nd one I found one of my drums.. The others were already sold and that led us ( cops and I ) to the thieves, because they needed a photo ID to sell the stuff.. Well, it was a girlfriend of one of the theives and she had no problem giving up her other half, quick too, I might add… She didn’t want to get into anymore trouble.. Point of the story is, they don ‘t have to teach common sense, do they ?
Report Post »M4finny
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 7:20pmWhat a beautiful, intelligent young lady. Obviously, she has a bright future in law enforcement is she chooses to pursue it. Also, a lifetime of being called an “Uncle Tom” and a “Sell Out” to her race will await her. Oh well, someone has to clean up the hood. Good luck baby, you will need it.
Report Post »ladyda
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 6:34pmGood job young lady! May you be an inspiration to those of your age group that have no initiative to improve their futures…..and as for the Fitzgerald area cops…… do your job and arrest those thieves…you know this young lady’s kin is not their first crime scene, and will not be their last.
Report Post »Rob
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 6:33pmNick Fury ain’t black, Spider-man ain’t black, and Nancy Drew sure ain’t black!
Report Post »Mimi24
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:33pmThey also aren’t real. She is.
Report Post »Gamaliel
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:14pmWow, you sound like you don’t want to see something positive in this girl because of her race. Very sad.
Report Post »think1st
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 11:32pmWow, Rob, what an observation! Now, don’t be late for your MENSA meeting!
Report Post »(Just Google it, Rob… Oh, and Google ‘sarcasm’ while your at it…)
yetinate
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 6:17pmI am not surprised. Our LE is demoralized from poor leadership and a screwed up justice system. Now add budget problems on top of that. If they want to keep there job they need to generate revenue, not spend there time on you and I. A noble proffession screwed up by politicians, judges and innatentive voters.
Report Post »christian soldier
Posted on August 21, 2011 at 10:37amDon’t forget the union leadership and their greed and selfishness…..it’s all about power for them, not the
Report Post »membership!
DarkFire
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 6:15pmLets solve the real mystery, how much welfare is she getting paid for doing this!
Report Post »toto
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 7:59pmYou, sir, have sad and dark soul.
Report Post »Mimi24
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:31pmProve it. Let’s see you do what she did. My guess is that you would be cowering behind some woman’s skirt. She not only solved the case, she confronted the crooks.Keep on like you are Jessica. Don’t let windbags like this one change you. Great job!
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:33pmUM hey darkfire….in order for toto to be racist, the knowledge of your gender and the concentration of melanin in your skin would had to have been known BEFORE the comment was made.
I suggest you stand in front of a mirror and honestly ask yourself IF you prejudge other people.
Report Post »think1st
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:40pmLet’s get a few of more things “stright” around here:
1. <>
If you don‘t see what’s wrong with this statement, you most likely never will. That 12 year old girl *probably* has 30 IQ points on you. Maybe more.
2. <>
You “probably” don’t know what is wrong with that statement either (besides the grammar).
3. Whether you are male, female, white, black, or green is irrelevant. Your comments reveal who you are very well.
4. Caps will make you look smarter.
5. Jessica: Great job, I hope you have the wonderful, fulfilling life that you deserve. Kids like you give us all hope!
Report Post »think1st
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:46pmThe Blaze software pulled the quotes that were in between the signs. They were:
1. “that so called little angel probably has a kid of her own, so what i speak is the truth”
2. “so i say to you for you comments you are a racist!”
Report Post »Mimi24
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:16pmThat makes your comment seem even more harsh. First, how much are you being paid to post your comment? Second, as a black female, how can you not be proud of her? You remind me of the lobsters in the glass aquarium at Red Lobsters trying to pull the other lobsters back down. Do you know for sure that she is collecting welfare or has a child? If you don’t then please be aware that you have just very publicly slandered her character. Think that we may have a lawyer or two on the Blaze that might have been impressed with her?
Report Post »christian soldier
Posted on August 21, 2011 at 10:39amYou and Rob are birds of a feather….disgusting!! (no insult to birds intended)
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 6:14pmBrave girl.. idiot police.. they still have not arrested the perpatrators…………. whats the use of having police.. maybe if they had the threat of losing their jobs they would make a arrest.. The Fulton County citizens ought to be calling the police department, day in and day out until the suspects are in jail!
Report Post »izzy1127
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 6:07pmMaybe she would be a good replacement for Eric Holder. He’s definitley as useless as my terds……. Very impressed with her. Heck, maybe she could do some good work for CBS, investigative reporting. Definitely have no one doing it now. Well, only one who know how to spew lies and filth………..
Report Post »grandma7
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 6:38pmYes, a great replacement for Holder!!!
Report Post »WeekendAtBernankes
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:38pmHa ha, ohhh, thanks Izzy. Made me laugh out loud :)
Report Post »yiddishlion
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:44pmThat would be Kaneisha Drew…………….
Report Post »Mimi24
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:19pmCould you please explain your post?
Report Post »yiddishlion
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 11:31pmDid you watch the video?
Report Post »KusoJiJi
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:40pmSaw the interview earlier today and very impressed by this young lady. I am however more than pissed off at the terribly incompetent cop who put her in this dangerous situation.
Report Post »EWRoss
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:26pmHow about a reality show about young people like this instead of the ones about idiots.
Report Post »peaches1
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:42pmI so agree.
Report Post »StrongWesternbabeluvinherWesternMAN
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:42pmExactly EW
Report Post »yiddishlion
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:50pmHere here.
Report Post »UFOCPrez
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:54pmGreat idea!
Report Post »Mimi24
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:42pmThat would be one that I would watch. I don‘t know if there’s enough Jessica’s out there to cast it though. I’m afraid we live in a Jersey Shore society.
Report Post »Merrymix
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:21pmA friend had bicycles and tools stolen out of his garage. He got a tip that it might have been one of his neighbors, so he started watching that property. Sure enough, he saw all of his stuff in their garage. Went to the police, took them to the property, and they said they couldn‘t arrest the guy or get the stuff back because he wasn’t caught in the act. The guy was so pleased he wasn’t arrested, he came back later that night and broke into the house taking his big screen TV and his gas stove. Shortly after that, he came back in the middle of the night and (can you imagine!) dug up and took off with the expensive unique shrubs in the front yard. Well, guess what?! The dirt tracks went down the sidewalk right to his yard where the shrubs had been dragged. And there they were — bright and beautiful — planted right in the guy’s front yard! He was so bold, he didn’t even care! He knew he had the police on his side and nothing would happen to him. My friend had to move from his house to protect the rest of his things.
Report Post »MartyTr
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 6:22pmBig dog.
Report Post »ohblies
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 8:49pmThe crook stealing stuff from your friend is probably the police chief’s brother. It’s amazing to me the number of people who get off because they are related to or friends of law enforcement. It’s not what you know….it’s who you know. And when it comes to enforcing the law, guess who gets screwed.
Report Post »Vladia
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:17pmI watched this young lady being interviewed on Fox News this morning. Twelve years old. Poised. Confident. *Extremely* well-spoken. S!he is what America should aspire to in their youth. Kudos to her, and I wish her the very best in her future
Report Post »mule creek ridge
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 4:50pmTo Jessica Maple I say. KUDO to you, again, and again.
Report Post »To Fulton County DA I say. What in the heel is wrong with you and the people that you are responsible for making sure they do their jobs, that the community pays you for doing (or not doing)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
CatB
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:11pmI was also made aware recently that if you have been robbed you should go on Craigslist and see if you can find your stolen items.
Report Post »becker88
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:16pmGlad to see kids still have brains.
http://politicalbowl.com – Political Videos
Report Post »Slayer
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 4:47pmShe wanted to learn about the criminal justice system.
Report Post »She just learned about the criminal justice system.
She would have been better getting the confession from the burglars and then hiring someone to take care of them both. Forget the police. Never go to the police. Their hands are tied by our worthless criminal justice system which has been infected by Liberalism for sixty years and has failed us utterly.
Oddness
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 4:38pmGreat story, but one month and no arrest? What are we missing here?
Report Post »Sean In LI
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:24pmNot enough resources to go after crime other than big dollar commercial felonies, drug crime, murder and rape.
Most lower-level felonies and absolutely no misdemeanor crime is ever followed up on. That’s why “flash mob” robberies are so popular. The owner won’t stop it while it happens out of fear of the mob, and the stolen amounts never amount to enough where it’s worth pursuing by the police/DA.
That’s the America of today. Get used to it.
Report Post »clingingtogodandguns
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 4:35pmShe will be arrested soon for tampering with evidence.Swat will show up at her door and if she talks back she will be tased.You making big brother look bad.
Report Post »ddg7
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 4:35pmJudging by the burglar bars on the windows it had to have been an inside job.
Report Post »Rusty-nail
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 4:31pm:) Good detective work!
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 4:30pmShow up the police and they will show you, no arrest, and they won’t move until the suspects retailiate.
Report Post »AllAmericanGirl22
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 4:30pmAwesome, I love Nancy Drew. But why don’t the Po-Po arrest the guy already!?
Report Post »YepImaConservative
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 4:30pmGood for you Jessica! Now please investigate the “Fast and Furious” debacle and get Eric Holder to admit his culpability. Maybe he will listen to you and come to his senses.
While your at it… can you talk to him about the Black Panthers at voting stations and the White targeting, Flash Mob criminals around the country.
And while your at it…
Report Post »Jocon307
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 6:09pm“Good for you Jessica! Now please investigate the “Fast and Furious” debacle and get Eric Holder to admit his culpability.”
LOL!
Report Post »christian soldier
Posted on August 21, 2011 at 10:50amAmen to that!!!!!
Report Post »Exrepublisheep
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 4:23pmGood for her!
Report Post »TraciS
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 4:21pmLeave it to a child to make the police look incompetent.
Report Post »salvawhoray
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 4:27pmShe better not try and open a lemonade stand.
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 4:31pmProbably why they have not made any arrest yet — it would highlight the incompetence.
Report Post »Mimi24
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:46pmNow would be a good time for Obama to tell the police that they acted “stupidly” and invite this young lady to the White House.
Report Post »