• Shardee McGill, 33, and daughter Janae, 3, were discovered dead in Alabama's Tombigbee River days after disappearing.
• Husband Johnathan McGill reported them missing Monday after they left their Jackson home Sunday and never returned.
• Authorities called Shardee's death suspicious and are conducting ongoing investigations with multiple agencies across state lines.

JACKSON, MS (TDR) — A Mississippi mother and her toddler daughter were found dead in Alabama days after vanishing from their Jackson home, launching a multi-state investigation that has left a community searching for answers.

Shardee McGill, 33, and her 3-year-old daughter Janae were discovered in the Tombigbee River near Epes, Alabama, roughly 140 miles from their Northeast Jackson residence. Authorities recovered Shardee's body Thursday in shallow water. The next day, searchers found Janae nearby.

Interim Jackson Police Chief and Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones said the circumstances surrounding Shardee's death appear suspicious based on evidence discovered during the investigation.

The Disappearance

According to police reports, Shardee and Janae were last seen alive Sunday evening. However, they weren't reported missing until Monday night around 8:30 p.m., when Shardee's husband, 34-year-old Johnathan McGill, contacted Jackson authorities.

Freedom-Loving Beachwear by Red Beach Nation - Save 10% With Code RVM10

Johnathan told investigators the pair had "packed some belongings" Sunday night and left their home in the 300 block of Northtown Drive. They never returned.

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation activated a Missing and Endangered Child notification for Janae. Despite the urgency, authorities determined the case didn't qualify for an Amber Alert because the child left with her mother rather than being kidnapped or taken in a custodial dispute.

"This young lady left the residence with her mother. It wasn't a situation where there was a kidnapping or a custodial kidnapping," Jones explained during a press conference. "Based on that information, I'm not sure that it actually qualified for an Amber Alert."

Instead, law enforcement relied heavily on social media and press releases to spread awareness about the missing mother and child.

The Search Crosses State Lines

On Tuesday, authorities located Shardee's 2017 black Chevrolet Equinox in Epes, Alabama. The vehicle was empty. Meanwhile, Johnathan McGill had also traveled to Alabama, where he was taken into custody by local police for questioning.

After being interviewed, he was released. Currently, Johnathan McGill does not appear on jail rosters in either Sumter County, Alabama, or the Mississippi counties surrounding Jackson.

The discovery of the abandoned vehicle triggered a coordinated search effort involving multiple agencies. On Thursday, the Jackson FBI notified local police that Shardee's body had been found in a shallow section of the Tombigbee River.

"The death and the circumstances of Shardee McGill are definitely suspicious based on the evidence and based on the manifest that has been discovered during the course of the investigation," Jones stated.

A Community Mourns

Friday brought the tragic conclusion to the search when authorities found Janae's body near where her mother was discovered. The 3-year-old, described as three feet tall and 40 pounds with black hair styled in ponytails, had been the focus of an intensive search by Alabama and Mississippi law enforcement.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE THE DUPREE REPORT

Both causes of death remain under investigation pending autopsy results from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Additionally, investigators are working to determine where the deaths occurred, which will determine jurisdictional authority for any potential criminal charges.

"If there is evidence to support that Shardee was killed in Jackson, JPD would be the investigating agency," Jones said, noting it was too early to make that determination.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's State Bureau of Investigation, Jackson Police Department, FBI and Mississippi Bureau of Investigation continue coordinating the investigation.

Detective Tommie Brown of the Jackson Police Department issued a statement asking for continued prayers for the victims' families during this traumatic event.

Furthermore, authorities urge anyone with information about the case to contact the Jackson Police Department at 601-960-1234 or Crime Stoppers at 601-355-TIPS (8477).

Should Amber Alert criteria be expanded to include situations where children leave with their parents under suspicious circumstances? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Follow The Dupree Report for more coverage of breaking news and investigative updates.

Freedom-Loving Beachwear by Red Beach Nation - Save 10% With Code RVM10