AZ AZ - Jarrett Brooks, 16, last seen near I-40, Joseph City area, 4 Jul 2023

[Caring1]

 

[Tricia]

Dear Websleuths Members and Guests,
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[AZDesertGal]

When this first happened, the flyers were all over. They seem to have disappeared, and it's been quite a few months since a missing person flyer on Jarrett was up at the Snowflake, AZ post office. I'm guessing that Joseph City and the surrounding communities are the places such flyers would be needed the most, to remind people to keep looking. A young man is missing, it's too early to let his case fade.

 

[Chimera]

When this first happened, the flyers were all over. They seem to have disappeared, and it's been quite a few months since a missing person flyer on Jarrett was up at the Snowflake, AZ post office. I'm guessing that Joseph City and the surrounding communities are the places such flyers would be needed the most, to remind people to keep looking. A young man is missing, it's too early to let his case fade.

Thank you for bumping this case.
I admit I'm on the fence as to what actually occurred.
Self-harm or ran into the wrong person ?
Imo.

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Newspaper editor indicted for obstructing investigation of missing Joseph City boy

A Show Low newspaper editor has been accused of interfering with the investigation of Jarrett Brooks, who has been missing from Joseph City since July 4, 2023.

www.nhonews.com

May 9, 2025

A Show Low newspaper editor has been accused of interfering with the investigation of Jarrett Brooks, who has been missing from Joseph City since July 4, 2023.

Molly Kathryn Ottman, 50, was charged by a Navajo County grand jury May 6 with two felonies – obstructing a criminal investigation, and fraudulent schemes and artifices. Ottman is scheduled to appear at the Navajo County Superior Court on June 2.

*****

See linked article for full details.

 

[Knox]

Newspaper editor indicted for obstructing investigation of missing Joseph City boy

A Show Low newspaper editor has been accused of interfering with the investigation of Jarrett Brooks, who has been missing from Joseph City since July 4, 2023.

www.nhonews.com

May 9, 2025

A Show Low newspaper editor has been accused of interfering with the investigation of Jarrett Brooks, who has been missing from Joseph City since July 4, 2023.

Molly Kathryn Ottman, 50, was charged by a Navajo County grand jury May 6 with two felonies – obstructing a criminal investigation, and fraudulent schemes and artifices. Ottman is scheduled to appear at the Navajo County Superior Court on June 2.

*****

See linked article for full details.

This situation reminds me of a certain woman who involved herself in the Hailey Dunn case and attempted to become involved in the Abbey & Libby murder case- birds of a feather.

Hope the hammer drops and her reputation always precedes her wherever she goes.

 

[Linear13]

What is wrong with people? Did this woman think that a Reddit post couldn’t be traced back to her? This only slows things down even more.

Ever since JB disappeared the whole story has smelled to me. This is all MOO. I do find it telling (in the attached article) that the private investigator has stated that he is no longer working on the case because it is no longer a missing persons case but a criminal matter.

Newspaper editor indicted for obstructing investigation of missing Joseph City boy

A Show Low newspaper editor has been accused of interfering with the investigation of Jarrett Brooks, who has been missing from Joseph City since July 4, 2023.

www.nhonews.com

 

[elframo]

Wow! Just read the Daily Mail article ...this case is crazy

 

[mlhenn]

Jarrett Thomas Brooks – The Charley Project

Last updated May 13, 2025; casefile added.

 

[TwinkieDefense]

May 30, 2025 article

Show Low journalist accused of faking social media posts about missing teen, officials say

The editor of an online news outlet in eastern Arizona is charged with felony counts of fraud and obstructing an investigation.

www.azcentral.com

[…]

The Navajo County Attorney's Office said Molly Ottman, 50, of Show Low, made several Reddit posts posing as Brooks' father, Brian. The posts made months after the teenager's disappearance implied the man had molested his son.

[…]

 

[dotr]

Last Known Picture Of Missing Joseph City Juvenile, Jarrett Brooks, Released. | MOUNTAIN DAILY STAR

The last known picture of missing Joseph City juvenile, Jarrett Brooks was captured by the Brooks live CCTV camera system has been released.

mountaindailystar.com

Picture of Jarrett Brooks taken from the live CCTV video feed. Jarrett has what appears to be a pistol in his waste band that he took from the family safe. Also, this is the last known video of Jarrett Brooks that was captured in a picture.

 

[Chimera]

What is wrong with people? Did this woman think that a Reddit post couldn’t be traced back to her? This only slows things down even more.

Ever since JB disappeared the whole story has smelled to me. This is all MOO. I do find it telling (in the attached article) that the private investigator has stated that he is no longer working on the case because it is no longer a missing persons case but a criminal matter.

Newspaper editor indicted for obstructing investigation of missing Joseph City boy

A Show Low newspaper editor has been accused of interfering with the investigation of Jarrett Brooks, who has been missing from Joseph City since July 4, 2023.

www.nhonews.com

Bbm.
I would like to know a little more about that.
Omo.

 

[dotr]

Aug 12, 2024 #missingperson #JarrettBrooks #missingteen
Jarrett Brooks, 17, left his home July 4, 2023, with a handgun from his family's gun safe and hasn't been seen since. There have been multiple possible sightings, which give his parents hope, and they believe he is still somewhere alive.

 

[Angelcat13]

Aug 12, 2024 #missingperson #JarrettBrooks #missingteen
Jarrett Brooks, 17, left his home July 4, 2023, with a handgun from his family's gun safe and hasn't been seen since. There have been multiple possible sightings, which give his parents hope, and they believe he is still somewhere alive.

I hope so. Hoping it’s real and not just them clinging to hope - which is 100%+ understandable.

 

[Knox]

Sheriff releases photo of what missing Arizona teen may look like now

Jarrett Brooks was last seen on July 4, 2023 and the sheriff's office is continuing to search for him.

www.12news.com

 

[Skyblueday32]

I just heard of this case and read through many of the posts. It is very sad, such a young man. It seems JB was trying to be a regular 16 yr old boy. If you live out away from town, your fun is off-roading, shooting, hunting, camping etc.

The parents do seem a little overly strict and distrusting, confiscating phones and reading through texts, seems like 0 trust, why? They keep saying JB was a good kid, so I don't understand the tight control?

Something also that struck me odd, although very safe, was a camera on the guns in the home. It did say JB was the eldest, but he obviously had access, why the camera in the house? If the guns are secured correctly why the camera? Again, is that overly distrusting of family members or for insurance or another benefit? Even having a camera, it may be too late to stop an accident if the guns are not properly secured. Was he allowed to use a gun at his leisure or did he need permission each time? If he needed permission, now he is really in big trouble, do you come home to even worse punishment? Did the parents check that camera immediately upon noticing him missing? That would be a little odd too, again like knowing something.

Why was he home schooled? Did they live so far from town that attending school was not possible, or is it that tight control again?

I was also struck by JBs question to his mom about driving privileges vs being completely stuck at home as his grounding/punishment, he may have already made plans to meet up with someone, were they to pick him up to take him to the town celebrations or just hang out, maybe he knew what time they were getting him and he just left early to intercept them going to his home? Maybe he deleted that text with those plans before handing over his phone? If he was not telling his parents about breaking the machine, what other info may he not be sharing, very typical 16 yr old behavior, but how deep do his deceptions go? Was the cell phone examined by forensics for deleted information/texts/emails?

Leaving his wallet in his car and taking a gun does not fit a friend picking him up to go to the celebration, plus he couldnt be there if his parents were going to be.

So that behavior unfortunately tends to indicate irrational self harm (if alone) or a thought or hanging out locally and target shooting with a friend(s), you don't normally hunt with a hand gun. Did he just go off to shoot to entertain himself while the family went to the celebration town? Being angry/sad maybe he just wanted to not see them all leave him behind? Maybe an accident occurred while shooting? Was he alone when he broke the machine off-roading? Maybe a friend was driving, maybe he took the gun to approach who broke the machine to demand money to fix it?

If he was running away to start a new life, why take just a gun? No clothes, no money? Did he think self protection if he was hitch hiking? Where would he go with nothing but a hand gun?

So did he see no way out of a strict home and leave to do self harm or just run away never to return?

Did he meet up with a friend who was going to join him at the celebrations and jump in their car and something bad happened? Did he get into fights? His nose in his older picture looks as if it was broken at some point, but I could be wrong.

So many questions, I hope the young man is found alive and well, but seems unlikely this amount of time.

 

[killarney rose]

Joseph City is a rural area near I-40, in between Winslow and Holbrook.

 

[Knox]

This case is such a mystery. It’s complicated IMO, by the parents being involved in something unsavory. That impacts my ability to trust they are good people who tell the truth.

IMO, it’s very similar to the Karlie Guse case.