GA GA - Jenna Van Gelderen, 25, Atlanta, 18 Aug 2017 #5

[bleuboy]

I always think of Jenna. Ive always thought one of the people who she was associating with her around the time she went missing knows something. I just hope that whoever knows something, one day slips up and talks to a friend about it. Cases have been solved after 10 years after an husband and wife have broken up and then one of them goes to the police and tells them what the other spouse did. I pray for closure for the family.

 

[charminglane]

Bump for Jenna.
It's 7 years in a few weeks.

 

[sunflowermomma]

Bump....any new info?

 

[SurferAli]

Lurker for a long time. Not really on this case but others. I have become interested in this case because I grew up in Druid Hills, my mom worked at Emory University, and my grandparents were members of Druid Hills Golf Club.
If Jenna's parents lived on Oakdale, why did she go to Grady High school? Anyone I knew of on Oakdale or Springdale went to Druid Hills High School (or let's be honest, a private school). Her family was an upper class Jewish family but she was hanging out with very lower class seedy characters. (I've seen some of their facebooks).
It just seems so odd to me.
Also, the immediate jump to sex trafficking by law enforcement, friends, or just people looking into the case baffles me. Yes, in Atlanta there is sex trafficking but not usually in Druid Hills in a seemingly sweet Jewish family. Red flags for me right there. Nothing makes since.

 

[sunflowermomma]

Lurker for a long time. Not really on this case but others. I have become interested in this case because I grew up in Druid Hills, my mom worked at Emory University, and my grandparents were members of Druid Hills Golf Club.
If Jenna's parents lived on Oakdale, why did she go to Grady High school? Anyone I knew of on Oakdale or Springdale went to Druid Hills High School (or let's be honest, a private school). Her family was an upper class Jewish family but she was hanging out with very lower class seedy characters. (I've seen some of their facebooks).
It just seems so odd to me.
Also, the immediate jump to sex trafficking by law enforcement, friends, or just people looking into the case baffles me. Yes, in Atlanta there is sex trafficking but not usually in Druid Hills in a seemingly sweet Jewish family. Red flags for me right there. Nothing makes since.

Thanks for your local input here. I am not from that area, but I know a lot of well off kids from good families who went off the rails and ended up around bad people. Sometimes when you are not exposed to the negatives of society growing up, it can be easier to fall into it because you don't understand just how dangerous it can truly be. I wonder if the police have more information or leads than they have shared publicly that point to sex trafficking. It's been so long, I feel so bad for Jenna's family.

I also see a situation where it could mirror Alicia Navarro's case....praying that Jenna is safe and alive somewhere.

 

[deadfoot13]

Lurker for a long time. Not really on this case but others. I have become interested in this case because I grew up in Druid Hills, my mom worked at Emory University, and my grandparents were members of Druid Hills Golf Club.
If Jenna's parents lived on Oakdale, why did she go to Grady High school? Anyone I knew of on Oakdale or Springdale went to Druid Hills High School (or let's be honest, a private school). Her family was an upper class Jewish family but she was hanging out with very lower class seedy characters. (I've seen some of their facebooks).
It just seems so odd to me.
Also, the immediate jump to sex trafficking by law enforcement, friends, or just people looking into the case baffles me. Yes, in Atlanta there is sex trafficking but not usually in Druid Hills in a seemingly sweet Jewish family. Red flags for me right there. Nothing makes since.

BBM

Jenna was on the autism spectrum which made her not only very trusting of people, but I would imagine also made her easily manipulated because of her desire to be accepted. The characters she was hanging out with were probably in her life because they could easily take advantage of her while she thought they liked her and were her friends. By all accounts Jenna was high-functioning, but ASD affects how a person interprets social cues and can make it very difficult to "see through" people. It also may have something to do with why she was attending a different school than her district.

I do not think she was a victim of sex trafficking, either. I personally believe that it was something like an act of violence that took place when she refused to do something for one of her "friends" -- ASD can make a person appear to be very stubborn, and if they were pushing her to do something and she was saying no, she could have been killed during the argument. From the information provided throughout the case, she had a very chaotic night and may have reached the point where she just said no more, and then whatever happened, happened.

I truly hope that one day she is found and the family will have some answers.

MOO

 

[dalsglen]

I just saw a photo of a lady that reminded me so much of Jenna, had to come check her thread. 7 years!

It's a shame her brother was essentially pushed away from the thread, albeit by a well meaning member I'm sure. He was a good lad just trying to do his best to find his sister.

There was undoubtedly some shady characters in her life but as deadfoot says, she was somewhat naive and too trusting due to her autism. I also believe it was a violent end after her saying no more.

As always, I hope for resolution and justice for her parents and brother.

 

[Nancy Drew RN]

Lurker for a long time. Not really on this case but others. I have become interested in this case because I grew up in Druid Hills, my mom worked at Emory University, and my grandparents were members of Druid Hills Golf Club.
If Jenna's parents lived on Oakdale, why did she go to Grady High school? Anyone I knew of on Oakdale or Springdale went to Druid Hills High School (or let's be honest, a private school). Her family was an upper class Jewish family but she was hanging out with very lower class seedy characters. (I've seen some of their facebooks).
It just seems so odd to me.
Also, the immediate jump to sex trafficking by law enforcement, friends, or just people looking into the case baffles me. Yes, in Atlanta there is sex trafficking but not usually in Druid Hills in a seemingly sweet Jewish family. Red flags for me right there. Nothing makes since.

I don't want to get into sleuthing families, but I believe that they did not own this house when Jenna was in high school. This AJC article indicates she ultimately transferred to the Howard School in high school, due to issues with learning difficulties and bullying. The Howard School is a private K-12 school in Atlanta that focuses on students with "language-based learning differences."

When a principal suggested they have her tested, Jenna was diagnosed with a nonverbal learning disability.

By middle school, things had really turned bad. Unable to understand the bounds of friendship, she was often excluded from parties and other social gatherings. By high school, she was often the victim of bullying.

She transferred to the Howard School, where she graduated in 2010, before heading to Georgia Gwinnett College.

DeKalb woman's disappearance still a mystery

Seven months later, DeKalb woman still missing

www.ajc.com

 

[jenn83]

I just spent the entire weekend reading every post of all the threads here for Jenna. I was only slightly familiar with her case before( I lived near Atlanta my entire life, but moved away a couple of years ago) but I got a sudden renewed interest so I dove in. I haven't been able to access the fb on the case that the family ran though, it says it doesn't exist now.

I have nothing new to add and I don't think she was trafficked. I believe it was someone known to her. Anyway, just wanted to add a post here to show that people haven't forgotten about Jenna.

 

[charminglane]

I just spent the entire weekend reading every post of all the threads here for Jenna. I was only slightly familiar with her case before( I lived near Atlanta my entire life, but moved away a couple of years ago) but I got a sudden renewed interest so I dove in. I haven't been able to access the fb on the case that the family ran though, it says it doesn't exist now.

I have nothing new to add and I don't think she was trafficked. I believe it was someone known to her. Anyway, just wanted to add a post here to show that people haven't forgotten about Jenna.

Thank you, @jenn83.
I have been thinking of Jenna a lot lately.

 

[Kittybunny]

I just spent the entire weekend reading every post of all the threads here for Jenna. I was only slightly familiar with her case before( I lived near Atlanta my entire life, but moved away a couple of years ago) but I got a sudden renewed interest so I dove in. I haven't been able to access the fb on the case that the family ran though, it says it doesn't exist now.

I have nothing new to add and I don't think she was trafficked. I believe it was someone known to her. Anyway, just wanted to add a post here to show that people haven't forgotten about Jenna.

Welcome! I think of Jenna as well, often. It’s heartbreaking that there’s been no updates or progress. I agree that it was someone known to Jenna, which should narrow the possibilities, and even more so when you consider that it was likely those she was last in contact with.

 

[auburnmomof2]

I have recently been made aware of some major criminal activity around the Emory area. And how Dekalb County pd just doesn't help victims. Absolutely furious for Jenna and others in my hometown. Did Jenna attend Emory? Have associates who may have worked there? Just brainstorming

 

[sunflowermomma]

bump

 

[sunflowermomma]

While searching for updates on Jenna, I came across a FB post made by a public page that brings awareness to missing persons cases from July 12 2025. It's good to know others still have Jenna on their minds! I don't think I can link it here but it can be found by searching her name. There are some interesting theories and comments.

Nothing major but I'm glad people are talking about her, someone has to know something. Especially with the tapestry missing. I wonder if LE keep an eye on ebay and auction houses for that. I also wonder why Jenna brought it with her and the only thing I can come up with (beyond the kidnapping/stolen tapestry theory) is that it brought her comfort as a family heirloom that could be packed down small and carried easily? JMO

 

[hyoidbone]

Bumping. This case is always on my mind.