On February 11, 1988, 12-year-old Jie Zhao Li (sometimes reported as Jie Zhao) disappeared while selling fundraiser tickets for her school in Honolulu, Hawaii. Jie was a 6th-grade student at Royal Elementary School.
That day, she was going door-to-door selling Zippyâs Chili fundraising tickets.
Jie lived with her parents and two sisters in an apartment on Nuuanu Avenue. Before she left, her mother asked her to be home by 6:00 p.m. and even gave her a wristwatch so she could keep track of time. Jie promised she would be back on time, but she never returned.
At about 4:45 p.m., Jie was last seen outside the 7-Eleven at Nuuanu Avenue and Kuakini Street, just a few blocks from her home.
Witnesses recalled her speaking to people entering and exiting the store, asking if they wanted to purchase tickets. She was also seen approaching people as they got in and out of their cars.
Some witnesses later reported that Jie may have gotten into a 1955â1957 Chevrolet sedan.
Investigators compiled a list of every registered Chevrolet of that make and model in Hawaii and personally checked each one, but the lead went nowhere.
That evening, when Jie failed to return home, her parents searched for her. She was officially reported missing the following morning.
The Honolulu Police Department launched one of the largest missing child searches in Hawaiiâs history.
Over the course of eight weeks, more than 39,000 man-hours were spent canvassing neighborhoods, distributing fliers, checking vehicles, and interviewing witnesses. Despite the extensive effort, no trace of Jie was ever found.
Investigators also looked into a man of interest who was reportedly mentally ill and had a disturbing encounter with another girl at the same 7-Eleven.
At times, he made statements such as, âIâll show you where she is,â leading police to search the Nuuanu Stream area with SWAT teams and dogs.
Nothing was discovered, and he was never charged.
Jie was described as obedient, bright, and close to her family. She had no history of running away, and authorities strongly suspect she was abducted by a non-family member.
Jie was born in China, and her family emigrated to Hawaii in 1985. Because of the one-child policy, Jie and her younger sister had been hidden before the family came to the U.S.
Her mother, Ly Yan Li, later said the pain of her disappearance has never faded. She has kept the same telephone number since 1988 in case Jie ever tries to call home.
At the time she went missing, Jie was 4â11â tall, weighed 75 lbs., and had black hair and brown eyes.
Her case remains unsolved.
Anyone with information is urged to contact
the Missing Child Center Hawaii at (808) 586-1449 or
Crimestoppers Honolulu at (808) 955-8300.
https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/771613/1
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/24596931/after-26-years-family-still-wonders-where-is-jie-zhao-li/