The 34-year-old New Orleans-born former high school football coach Jon’al White’s family is in desperate need of information regarding his whereabouts. When Jon’al traveled by Greyhound bus from Ruston, Louisiana, to Houston, Texas, in June 2023 in pursuit of employment, he was last seen.
Reginea White, Jon’al’s sister, talked about the family’s trying path since he vanished. Although it is known that Jon’al arrived in Houston, his precise location is still unknown.
“We were in constant communication via Facebook Messenger since he didn’t have a phone. He had a laptop and used Wi-Fi to stay in touch. But all communication stopped suddenly in mid-July,” Reginea said. “It’s like he vanished without a trace.”
A few months later, the family saw some activity coming from Jon’al’s Missouri City, Texas bank account; however, the account was finally closed due to overdraft fees, which made the search even more difficult. Reginea compared Jon’al like a “big teddy bear” because of his extreme affection, especially for his siblings, nieces, and nephews.
Having played football in high school and college in New Orleans, Jon’al is well-known for his calm and gentle personality. He was moving to Houston to get his bachelor’s degree.
“He wouldn’t hurt anyone,” she stated. “He’s very athletic, having played football in high school and college, and he was working as a football coach before heading to Houston to find a new job.”
Jon’al moved to Texas even though he had no family there, leaving his family bewildered and devastated. Jon’al’s family has described his absence as a nightmare they can’t wake up from, and it has had a great impact on them.
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“Our mother is especially devastated. We were all so close, and his disappearance has left a huge void in our family, making it hard to celebrate holidays and special occasions,” Reginea stated.
“This situation has torn us apart, especially during holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, which he always came home for. What’s the reason to celebrate holidays when we don’t know where our brothers is? This last year was different, we weren’t really able to celebrate because he’s out there.”
The White family is still holding out hope that they will soon be reunited with Jon’al and is urging anyone who has information to come forward.
In an attempt to gather information, the family has traveled to Houston several times, handing out leaflets and chatting with residents. They’ve even employed a private investigator, but nothing significant has turned up thus far.
Anyone with information is asked to get in touch with the Houston Police Department and the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, who are handling the investigation.
