SEQUESTERED Podcast Season Two, Episode: "Tonetta Carlisle: Abducted in 1989 (Chattanooga, TN)"
Release Date: June 9, 2025
Host/Producer: Road Trip Studios
Podcast Description: Season Two of SEQUESTERED delves into six cold cases of missing or murdered individuals, exploring the everyday moments that led to their tragic end. Through victim-centric storytelling, the podcast brings to light stories long buried in silence.
Introduction to Tonetta Carlisle’s Disappearance
On a serene spring afternoon in 1989, 15-year-old Tonetta Yvette Carlisle was walking home from City High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. With a backpack full of report cards boasting A's and B's, Tonetta was a picture of a bright and outgoing teenager. Her routine walk, a mere blocks from home, turned into a nightmare as she was abruptly abducted by several men in a yellow and tan vehicle.
"She seemed happy and proud of her hard work. Tonetta hugged her friends goodbye and started on her usual route home." [02:20]
The Abduction
Witnesses at a nearby intersection observed the entire abduction. Several men forcefully pulled Tonetta into a vehicle and sped away. The witnesses managed to note the license plate number: Tennessee tag LKH920. This pivotal detail was swiftly reported to the police.
"A couple witnesses saw everything. They watched as several men grabbed Tonetta and forced her into a vehicle before speeding away." [03:38]
Despite the immediate police involvement, the vehicle was found two days later with no sign of Tonetta. Her disappearance left her family and the community in profound shock and despair.
Community Response and Initial Investigation
Chattanooga in 1989 was a close-knit community where everyone knew each other. The abduction of Tonetta shattered this sense of safety. The city mobilized a massive search effort involving approximately 300 people, including volunteers, law enforcement, friends, and family. The search focused primarily along the corridor between City High and Hamilton Avenue.
"The neighborhood was shaken. A girl was taken in broad daylight. Two people had witnessed the abduction. Police had a license plate and a suspect's name, but there were still no answers." [14:15]
Jeffrey Lamar Jones: The Prime Suspect
Tracing the license plate led police to Jeffrey Lamar Jones, a man with a troubling past. Jones had been convicted of rape and aggravated sexual assault, serving eight years in prison before his release in 1988. Just a year after his release, he became the prime suspect in Tonetta's disappearance.
On March 18, 1989, two days after Tonetta was abducted, Jones was found dead in his vehicle under suspicious circumstances, ruled as carbon monoxide poisoning.
"He didn't act alone. Whoever was with him that day, they're likely still out there." [19:02]
Lingering Questions and Unresolved Mysteries
Despite Jones’s connection to the case, Tonetta’s body was never found, and the case remains unsolved. The lack of physical evidence, such as hair or fingerprints, hindered the investigation. Furthermore, eyewitnesses indicated that more than one individual was involved in the abduction, suggesting that Jones may not have been the sole perpetrator.
"But what we do know is this. He didn't act alone. Whoever was with him that day, they're likely still out there." [19:02]
Renewed Efforts and Ongoing Searches
In 2021, the case was revisited by Hamilton County District Attorney General Neil Pinkston, who expressed hope for new leads but acknowledged the challenges in solving the case without Tonetta's remains.
"I believe Jeffrey Jones is an important piece of the puzzle. We would like to hear from anyone who has any knowledge of Jeffrey Jones specifically within the last year or so before he committed suicide." [18:00]
By 2023, Tonetta’s case was added to Uncovered.com, a national cold case database, aiming to consolidate public records and media coverage to aid in reopening investigations.
Hamilton County’s current District Attorney General, Cody Womp, affirmed that cold cases remain a priority, encouraging the public to come forward with any information.
"Cold cases are still actively being prosecuted by my office. I also have three investigators in my office who are willing to investigate cold cases and bring them to me if we believe we have new evidence." [23:14]
Family's Plea for Closure
Tonetta's family continues to seek answers and closure. Her mother, Noni Sturtevent, and brother, Darryl Carlisle, appeal to the public for any information that could shed light on Tonetta’s disappearance. They express enduring hope that someone holds the final pieces to this heartbreaking puzzle.
"Right now, right today, somebody know where Tonetta is? Right here in Tennessee. It's just been devastating." [25:41]
Conclusion: The Unsolved Mystery
Over three decades have passed since Tonetta Carlisle was abducted, yet her case remains open and unresolved. While Jeffrey Lamar Jones is a significant figure in the investigation, the absence of Tonetta’s body and the possibility of additional perpetrators leave the case shrouded in mystery.
The weight of Tonetta’s disappearance continues to impact her family and the Chattanooga community, serving as a haunting reminder of unresolved justice.
"This case doesn't end with one suspect. There's more to the story than Jeffrey Jones. Or if he was, the evidence never proved it." [26:07]
Call to Action
The Carlisle family urges anyone with information to come forward, emphasizing that even the smallest detail could be crucial in uncovering the truth behind Tonetta’s disappearance.
"If you have any information about Teneta Carlisle's disappearance or details about Jeffrey Jones, no matter how small, please contact the Chattanooga Police Department at 423-698-2525 or the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBIFIND." [27:02]
For more information or to submit a tip, listeners are encouraged to visit the SEQUESTERED website at sequesteredpod.com.
Because silence isn’t justice.