| Late May – early June: Donna Jou comes across John Steven Burgess – a convicted child molester who uses the name Sinjin Stevens – on the Web site Craiglist.org and they begin exchanging messages. Eventually they agree to meet in person June 23: At 5:30 p.m. Jou gets on the back of Burgess' 1981 Yamaha motorcycle outside her Rancho Santa Margarita apartment. Jou's family leaves for dinner and watches the motorcycle exit the 241 at Portola. Burgess' roommates later tell police Jou was at a party held at their house at 3617 Farris Drive in Los Angeles. During the party, Jou calls her friend Sean Oberle in San Diego. The conversation is "casual" according to sheriff's investigators. June 24: At 6:08 p.m., Nili Jou receives a text message from her daughter's cell phone that reads "Battery's dying. I'm in San Diego. Be home soon. I love you Mommy."" June 25: Jou's family report her missing to the Orange County Sheriff's Department after she doesn't show up for work or school. June 28: Burgess turns 35. July 5: Orange County Sheriff's Department releases the pictures of two persons of interest in Jou's disappearance. Burgess is one of them. Burgess is seen packing his truck full of cardboard boxes. It is the last time Burgess' roommates see him. July 6: Sheriff's officials narrow their search to Burgess. The license plates and descriptions of his Ford Ranger pickup and motorcycle are publicized. July 8: A man finds a plastic tool box stuffed under bougainvillea vines about a mile and a half from Burgess' house. Inside the box are the vanity license plates "SINJIN 1" from Burgess' truck, a black motorcycle helmet, rubber dishwashing gloves, rope and a scrub brush. July 9: Orange County sheriff's investigators and members of LAPD's robbery/homicide division return to Burgess' house and spend hours interviewing his roommates and searching the property. Several knives are found in a backyard cabinet and are being tested for blood residue. July 26: Burgess is arrested in Jacksonville, Fl, possession of crack cocaine, bail: $1,000,000.00 August 17: Burgess extradited to Los Angeles and booked in LA County Jail. August 20: Burgess named suspect in disappearance of Donna Jou, his bail was set to $250,000 during bail hearing. August 29: Burgess, suspected in disappearance of Donna Jou posts $250,000 bail. September 20: Burgess was arrested at a Jacksonville, FL for theft, fake Social Security Card, fake drivers Lic, fake name: Logan Anderson. September 28: Burgess was re-extradited to Los Angeles, CA and jailed again. October 02: Burgess bail doubled ($500.000.00) during bail hearing. October 10: John Burgess was sentenced by California Superior Court to three years in State Prison on an unrelated (to Donna) felony charges. November 13: John Steven Burgess was transferred to WASCO state prison 53191AL December 29 - 30: Trinity Search & Recovery organized a search. 198 volunteers scattered throughout the Santa Monica Mountains in Malibu, CA looked for clues. March 12, 2008: John Steven Burgess was transferred to California Correctional Institution (CCI) at Tehachapi, California, CDC# F-95524. March 05, 2009: An investigative Grand Jury convened which led to Burgess’ confession. March 14, 2009: Burgess released from Prison (for charges un-related to Donna), he was re-arrested and brought to LA county Jail the same time to stand charges related to disappearance of Donna. March 16, 2009: Family and Gloria Allred met with LAPD & DA in LA District Attorney’s office for debriefing. March 17, 2009: Burgess was arraigned & charged with killing Donna Jou, bail set at 1,000,000. April 01, 2009: Burgess was brought to court, (#38, presiding Judge: Darrell Mavis). He dismissed his lawyer and asked to represent himself. April 09, 2009: Burgess was brought to court, He signed the paperwork to represent himself -- waived his right to an attorney. May 06, 2009: Burgess pleated guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter and Concealment of Accidental Death and dumping Donna into the Pacific Ocean (due to luck of evidence to prove or disprove his statement, the court accepted his fabricated story). May 07, 2009: Jou’s family and their attorney/Gloria Allred met face-to-face with Burgess at LAPD headquarter (Parker Center, Los Angeles). May 18, 2009: Burgess sentenced to 5 years state prison and 3 years probation. Donna’s parents, brother, and best friend made statement to the California Superior Court which became part of the court documentation. July 20, 2009: Burgess transferred from Los Angeles County Jail to North Kern State prison at Delano, CA 93216. Phone: 661-721-2345, CDC#: F95524 September 24, 2009: Danna's father, Reza Jou employed an independent company from out of state to move in to port of Los Angeles, California and conduct their under water search in Cabrillo Bay and Wilmington Marina. January 10, 2010: Burgess transferred from North Kern State prison to CHACKAWALLA VALLEY STATE PRISON, Blythe, California 92226, Telephone # 760-922-5300 Housing address: B5-106L, P. O. Box 2349, Blythe, CA 92226 January 16, 2010: Donna's parent face-to-face meeting with Burgess at CHACKAWALLA VALLEY STATE PRISON, Blythe, California. May 21, 2010: Burgess transported form CHACKAWALLA VALLEY STATE PRISON, Blythe, California to Los Angeles County jail to stand restitution hearing. October 18, 2010: Burgess transferred to California Institute for Men (CIM). April 15, 2011: Burgess transferred to Los Angles County Jail. April 15, 2011: Donna's family held a press conference in front of Los Angeles (LA) County Criminal Justice Building demanding LA District Attorney to re-open Donna's Case. June 24, 2011: Donna's family held a press conference in front of Los Angeles (LA) County Criminal Justice Building demanding LA District Attorney to re-open Donna's Case. October 14, 2011: In observance of Donna's 24th birthday, her family held a press conference in front of Los Angeles County District Attorny''s office and plead once again to the communities of Los Angeles and Orange County to join them in the cry for justice, to reopen the case and find out the real truth concerning the disappearance of Donna. December 7, 2011: After serving just half of a 5-year sentence for involuntary manslaughter, convicted sex offender John Burgess walked away from jail on Dec 7, 2011 from the Men's Central Jail around 3:45 p.m. |
Time line of Donna's disappearance
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