The mystery surrounding Lenoria Jones' case has been ongoing for nearly 30 years. Lenoria, who was only a 3-year-old toddler at the time, disappeared from Tacoma, Washington, authorities say.

In March 2023, Lenoria's mother Deidre Jones spoke out to King 5, she said at the time she did not have custody of her child. Instead Lenoria was living with her great-aunt and cousins. Deidre said, "The way Lenoria ended up with my aunt is because I had problems, incarcerated. I asked my aunt Berlean, would she get Lenoria for me so that Lenoria would not end up in the system."

July 20, 1995, the day Lenoria went missing, was confusing to authorities, the report added. The great-aunt called authorities from a local Target department store and said her great-niece was last seen in the toy section on South 23rd Street in Tacoma. Unfortunately, King 5 adds, there were "varying accounts of the girl's whereabouts." In fact, cameras in the store showed the aunt did not even arrive to the store with Lenoria. A witness also reportedly told police they did not see the toddler in the car before police were called from a payphone.

King 5 also spoke to Tacoma Police Detective Julie Dier. She said, “It appears that maybe something else had happened with the child and a missing child report was made to cover up what had happened."

Fox Q 13 reports the great-aunt lived less than two miles from the Target department store in Tacoma's Hilltop neighborhood. Dier also spoke to Q 13, "The great-aunt was asked to take a polygraph test, but prior to taking the polygraph, she claimed she wanted to tell where Lenoria was - but could not."

Lenoria stood 3 feet tall and weighed 40 pounds. She had braids in her brown hair at the time she vanished. The King 5 report says at the time of Lenoria's disappearance, there were other children living with the great-aunt, varying in ages.

If you know anything about this case, please reach Tacoma/Pierce County CrimeStoppers directly: 1-800-222-TIPS. You can also submit any leads online to the Tacoma Police Department.