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Person of interest in Amanda Jones disappearance dies as case was heating up

The Missouri Attorney General's Office was close to charging Bryan Westfall in the 2005 cold case. Amanda Jones was 8 1/2 months pregnant when she disappeared.

HILLSBORO, Mo. — A prime person of interest in the disappearance of Amanda Jones, who was 8 1/2 months pregnant when she was last seen 16 years ago, died this week as the investigation was picking up momentum, the 5 On Your Side I-Team has learned.

Bryan Westfall, who Jones believed was the father of her baby, was the last person to see Jones, 26, alive in August 2005.

Police have questioned Westfall and he allowed them to conduct limited searches of his rural Jefferson County property, but police never had enough evidence to charge him.

The I-Team has learned the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department had been working with the Missouri Attorney General’s Cold Case Unit in recent months, and Westfall was close to being charged in connection with Jones’ disappearance.

On Sunday, police said a member of Westfall’s family called 911 after Westfall collapsed when he stood up to go to the bathroom at 8:58 p.m. The caller told dispatchers Westfall was complaining about a headache before his collapse, according to Jefferson County Sheriff David Marshak.

An ambulance took him to a hospital.

The next day, investigators went to Westfall’s girlfriend’s parent’s house and told them the Missouri Attorney General’s Office was likely going to charge him in connection to Jones’ disappearance. 

Unbeknownst to the investigators, Westfall was hospitalized.

On Tuesday, investigators learned Westfall suffered a stroke and was not expected to survive. He died later that day.

What this means for the investigation is unclear.

Jones' parents and her now-adult daughter shared a joint statement Thursday, saying they're stunned, and they won't give up in their search for them. In October, Jones' parents and daughter filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Westfall.

In the suit, they accused Westfall of "intentionally killing" Amanda and her baby. He had been notified the lawsuit had been filed, according to a Jones family statement. 

They said the suit will continue with some adjustments due to Westfall's death.

“The sudden death of Bryan Westfall has shocked all of us beyond belief," according to the statement. "We as a family feel cheated that Bryan has died before we could find our daughter Amanda and unborn grandson Hayden. This news follows our recent legal actions against Bryan, and we feel that another opportunity to get a step closer in finding them has been lost.

“We send our sincere condolences to his [Bryan Westfall’s] parents for their loss. We know all too well the heartbreak and pain of losing a child. Fortunately, the Westfall family can lay their child to rest in a sacred place; we still have not had that opportunity.

“We will continue our search for Amanda and Hayden, to bring them home so that we can have closure and peace, and we will not give up until we get answers,” the statement concludes.

It appears investigators aren't giving up on the case, either.

In a statement, Marshak wrote: “The Amanda Jones missing case continues to be an active investigation regardless that a ‘person of interest’ passed. Our investigators have been working closely with Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s Office Cold Case Unit on this case.

“This continues to be an active investigation, and we will proceed to follow leads and interview witnesses to resolve this case.”

READ ALSO: Jefferson County Sheriff's Office oversees excavation search for Amanda Jones

Westfall's attorney, Kevin Roberts, emailed a statement Friday morning, maintaining his client's innocence.

"Bryan Westfall’s death is both tragic and unfortunate. Bryan had no involvement in the disappearance of Amanda Jones and he truly hoped that her family would find peace and would determine what happened," Roberts wrote. "Despite the histrionic media coverage of this case Bryan held no ill will towards the Probst family. Bryan was a straight forward, stand up guy and will be sorely missed by his many friends and family."

Marshak said Westfall’s death does not automatically mean investigators can search his property.

“A death is not necessarily carte blanche access to search personal property,” he wrote. “Constitutional protections are at the forefront of our investigations, and we will follow the laws that protect all Americans.” 

Lt. Nic Forler is the commander of the Jefferson County Investigations Division.

He said Westfall's death may prompt people he believes have information about Amanda's disappearance to come forward. 

"We were able to really get some fresh ideas in a more aggressive approach than we have been able to do just based on time and resources to move the case forward in the last couple months," he said. "There may be people that have spoken to us in the past that weren't completely honest or didn't provide the full story. 

"It's been 16 years. I would ask that those people come forward to us, make contact and provide that information so that we can get closure, not just for the investigation, but for the family of Amanda as well."

 

Pregnant and missing

Jones’ parents, Hugh and Bertha Propst, said their daughter met Westfall at a holiday party and got pregnant.

Jones had a 4-year-old daughter, Hannah, at the time of her disappearance.

Jones went to the Hillsboro Civic Center to meet Westfall on Aug. 14, 2005 and show him ultrasound pictures of the baby. Her parents said Westfall hadn’t spoken to their daughter in six months and denied the baby was his.

Jones’ parents said their daughter brought the ultrasound photos with her that day hoping to compel him to be in the child’s life.

She had already named him Hayden.

Police later found Jones’ unlocked and abandoned car parked at the Hillsboro Civic Center. Inside, they found the ultrasound photos and her purse. But her keys, wallet and cellphone were missing.

So was Jones.

Westfall allowed police to conduct a limited search of his property two days after Jones disappeared.

Westfall denied having anything to do with Jones’ disappearance and hired a lawyer when he was questioned.

That attorney has not yet returned a phone call for comment from the I-Team.

Westfall’s then-girlfriend also retained a lawyer at the time.

Other suspects?

Police also questioned Scott Jones, Amanda Jones’ ex-husband and father of her daughter, Hannah.

The couple married in 1999 and divorced in 2002.

Scott Jones was cleared as a suspect in the case and died in 2007.

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to the location of Amanda Jones and her unborn child, and/or for information leading to the identity of the person(s) involved with Jones’ disappearance.

Jones is described as being 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 215-225 pounds at the time of her disappearance. She has brown hair with blonde highlights and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a pink sleeveless top, a pink and white flowered skirt and pink sandals.

If you have information related to Jones’ disappearance, contact the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department at 636-797-5515 or call the FBI.

Tips may be anonymous.

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