Body of Mom Found in Trunk: Baby Left Alone in Apartment Leads to Search for Missing Ebony Jackson

Reports confirm that a female body found in the trunk of a white Mitsubishi Eclipse in St. Louis, MO on Tuesday, January 8 has been identified as Ebony Jackson. A frantic search for the missing woman began on Friday, January 4 after her three-month-old baby was found alone in an apartment complex. Police report that there was some trauma to the body when it was discovered - Jackson's family members suspect that foul play was involved in the Oklahoma woman's death.

(UPDATE: Reports confirm that Jackson appeared to have suffered a single gunshot wound to the head near her ear - police are waiting for the offical autopsy report (conducted on Wednesday, Jan 9) to confirm the cause of death.) 

The three-month-old child (Donovan Prom, who some reports say is actually 6-months-old) was found unsupervised in the hallway of a Breckenridge Hills apartment complex (Hickory Trace on the 3500 block of Dehart Place) in St. Louis on Friday - it remains unknown how the young child got there. The baby was discovered safe and unharmed.

Jackson, who lived in Oklahoma but was on her way to visit friends in East St. Louis, was last heard from on Thursday, January 3. According to family members, she left a message on a cousin's cell phone letting him know that she was on her way... she never got there. Family really started to worry when they didn't hear from Jackson on Friday, when she was supposed to meet up with her mother Stella.

According to KWTV News, after it was discovered that 30-year-old Jackson was indeed missing, police, family, and friends began a frantic search throughout the area. Flyers were posted with Jackson's picture in hopes that someone would contact authorities with any information regarding the mother's whereabouts.

The Breckenridge Hills Police confirm that Jackson's body was found in the trunk of her Mitsubishi Eclipse located at the 4400 block of Elmbank in North St. Louis on Tuesday morning, January 8. A cause of death has yet to be released, although the body was discovered with some trauma. Police Chief Perry Hopkins said St. Louis Metropolitan Police would take over the homicide portion of the investigation. The department confirmed that there were still many issues to be resolved involving Jackson's death.

KWTV News reports that Jackson's family suspects foul play - one family member said, "It's just totally out of character for her to be in a neighborhood like this, or just the car being in a neighborhood like this." 

Although the alleged baby's father has not been named as an official suspect, several reports confirm that Craig Prom had a rather tense relationship with Jackson. Apparently the man recently arrived in St. Louis and is currently attempting to bring the child back home to Oklahoma. Jackson's baby has been in state custody pending the results of a paternity test taken by this man identifying himself as the father.According to Jackson's cousin Tondra Mosley, she left  the couple's shared home on Wednesday (Jan. 2), leaving a note behind for Prom saying that she needed space. 

According to police records, Jackson had been in trouble with the law in the past. She was arrested three times since 2005, including charges for assault and battery on a police officer and theft.

Initially, Breckenridge Hills police were unsure whether Jackson was a suspect or a victim. Chief Hopkins insists that a thorough investigation will determine how Jackson's lifeless body ended up in the trunk of her car. Investigators are currently seeking subpoenas to get cell phone records and trying to learn the identity of a friend Jackson said she was going to visit in Fairview Heights. Officials hope to get in contact with anyone who last spoke to Jackson before she went missing.

At a press conference held on Wednesday, Chief Hopkins apologized to Jackson's family for not keeping them informed on where authorities were with the missing persons case. 

Authorities claim that anyone with information in regards to the case should contact the CrimeStoppers of St. Louis.