Police have launched a desperate search for an Australian waitress who disappeared from a south London backpacker hostel two weeks ago, before sending her friends a series of “out of character” text messages when they asked her where she was.
Jessica Parkinson, 29, was first reported missing by her father on Sunday, December 11 after failing to make contact with relatives on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Three days later, he didn’t show up for a 4 p.m. shift at Texas Joes, the barbecue restaurant where he’s worked for the past year.
When managers texted her to ask where she was, she claimed she had gotten her start time wrong and promised to be “there” at 5 p.m.
But she didn’t show up as promised and has not been heard from since she sent another colleague a “cryptic” message that same night.
She was reported missing for the second time last Friday after missing three shifts in a row.
Restaurant owner Joe Walters told MailOnline: “Jess was due to work on Wednesday and was due to start at 4.”
‘At that point our manager sent a message asking where she was and she replied that she thought she would be in at 5 and would be right there. That was very out of character for her.
Police have launched a desperate search for Australian waitress Jessica Parkinson (pictured) who went missing from a hostel in south London.
The waitress was first reported missing by her father on December 11 after failing to contact her relatives.
Three days later he didn’t show up for work at Texas Joes. When asked where he was, he told managers he would be “right there” at 5 pm, but never showed up.
“She didn’t show up, but sent a cryptic message to another member of staff that night. She didn’t mention missing work.
“Then she didn’t show up for work on Thursday and then when she didn’t show up on Friday I contacted her father in Australia.
“She told me that the police had been alerted and that the missing persons unit was dealing with her.”
Jess had recently been dealing with a “stressful” housing situation, after being evicted from a shared flat and forced to live in the St Christopher’s Inn hostel on Borough High Street.
Jessica, described as 5ft 4in with blue eyes and strawberry blonde hair, had talked about traveling back to Australia for the holidays and staying there until March, but none of her family or friends on the other side of the world have knew nothing about her.
“She’s very trustworthy and we have a close relationship,” Joe added. “She is very intelligent, outgoing and friendly.”
She had recently had problems with her housing and had been evicted from a shared apartment, so she was living in a hostel.
“She wasn’t very happy with that situation, which I can imagine, so we were trying to help her find something and we hadn’t made any progress with it.” She was stressed about it at the time.
“She was going back to Australia for the holidays and said she might stay there until March to sort things out and then come back, but no one in Australia has heard from her.
After her colleagues received a series of cryptic messages from Jessica, her manager contacted her father in Australia.
Jessica has been described as 5-foot-4, with blue eyes and strawberry blonde hair. He had previously talked about returning to his home country for the Christmas holidays and staying until March.
Jess, 29, had recently faced a “stressful” accommodation situation after recently being evicted from a shared flat.
‘His two sisters and his father have not heard anything. And I guess the police know that she hasn’t used her passport.
‘We are fine, fighting a little. It’s difficult for his father because he’s in Australia and with the time difference he doesn’t sleep in case he hears something.’
Anyone with information about Jess’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Metropolitan Police.
A force spokesperson said: “Police are currently investigating the whereabouts of Jessica Parkinson, 29, after she was last seen on Sunday December 8 in Bermondsey.
“Anyone who may have seen Jessica is urged to contact police quoting the reference number, 01/1196494/24.”