Comments:   This alert first appeared on Oct. 12, 1999 with a photo of a blonde female child attached. Some recipients were instantly skeptical due to the lack of specific information, such as the exact location of the incident and a contact number for local police. Searches of Minnesota newspapers failed to turn up any stories about a missing child named Kelsey Brooke Jones and police and missing persons databases showed no record of her disappearance, so the alert was initially labeled a hoax.

However, it subsequently became clear that Kelsey Brooke Jones does exist and indeed went missing for approximately two hours on October 11, 1999. According to a statement from Missing Children Minnesota, she was recovered unharmed that same day:

Thanks for checking with us about Kelsey Brooke Jones. The staff at Missing Children Minnesota has carefully and diligently researched and investigated this case only to discover that Kelsey was indeed missing - FOR LESS THAN TWO HOURS! When the family noticed her missing they put out the e-mail you received. What they did NOT do is send another message that Kelsey had been FOUND!

We are asking that folks not continue to forward the e-mail, and to notify their friends, family members, and e-mail buddies that there is NO CAUSE FOR ALARM.

Thank your for your concern -- and for your caring.

On behalf of the children,

Taylor Wilcox, Case Manager
Missing Children Minnesota

The above information has been confirmed by the Minnesota Crime Alert Network.

UPDATE:  As of early 2001, new versions of the alert were circulating in which the supposed date of the child's disappearance was altered to "Oct. 11, 2000."  Needless to say, the message is still false and pointless.

More 'missing kids' who aren't:

Krystava Patients Schmidt
Recovered unharmed within days of disappearance, but email alert still circulates

Andrew Russell Steinmetz
Kidnapped by father, recovered unharmed 2 months later. Email alert is still circulating.

Netlore Archive: Sick, Dying & Missing Kids
Full index of false, misleading and occasionally true email alerts