On March 22, 2018, in the serene village of Vechoochira, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, a mysterious disappearance occurred that captivated the entire state. Jesna Maria James, a 21 year old second year B.Com student from Dominic’s College in Kanjirapally, vanished without a trace. What began as a routine visit to her aunt’s house soon turned into one of the most puzzling missing person cases in Kerala’s history. Despite numerous investigations by local police and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), her whereabouts remain unknown to this day.
Jesna’s Life Before the Disappearance
Jesna Maria James was a bright and ambitious young woman. Born in 1997 to Joseph James and Nancy, she was one of five members of a close knit family. Jesna was known for her academic excellence, scoring 96% in her first year of college. Her life, however, took a tragic turn when her mother passed away in July 2017 due to illness. This heartbreaking loss deeply affected Jesna, causing her studies to suffer.
After her mother’s death, Jesna found support from her aunt, Sisily, who lived in the nearby village of Mundakayam. Jesna often stayed with her aunt to find some peace and emotional comfort. On the morning of March 22, 2018, Jesna decided to visit her aunt, unaware that this journey would lead to a mystery that remains unsolved.
The Last Known Movements of Jesna
It was a normal day for Jesna, who had been granted study holidays due to upcoming semester exams. On March 22, after spending a few days at her family home in Vechoochira, she decided to take a break from studying and visit her aunt. Around 9:30 a.m., Jesna left her house, locked the gate, and walked down the road, flagging an auto rickshaw driven by a familiar face.
Jesna spoke to the auto driver, greeting him warmly and asking to be dropped off at the Erumeli bus stand so she could catch a bus to her aunt’s village. The auto driver later reported that Jesna seemed relaxed, and they chatted casually throughout the short journey. Once they reached the bus stand, he dropped her off and left. From there, Jesna was captured on CCTV footage, calmly walking through the bus stand without any signs of distress.
The Start of a Sensational Case
After Jesna’s disappearance, her name quickly became known across Kerala. The case sparked fear, sadness, and confusion among the public. Everyone began asking the same questions: What happened to Jesna that day? Where did she go after leaving the bus stand?
Jesna’s family, unaware that she had even planned to visit her aunt, became worried when they couldn’t contact her. Her father, Joseph James, and brother, John, returned home later that day to find that Jesna was not there. They immediately called her phone, but it was switched off. Convinced that something was wrong, her father went to the Vechoochira police station to file a missing person’s report.
Initially, the local police were dismissive, telling her father that Jesna might have run away with a boyfriend and would return soon. Despite the family’s insistence that this was out of character for Jesna, the police delayed taking the case seriously. It wasn’t until 18 days later that they finally registered the case and began a formal investigation.
A Mysterious Case with No Leads
The police initially suspected that Jesna might have taken her own life. During a search of her home, they found her mobile phone, which she had left behind in a drawer. This seemed odd, as college students rarely leave their phones behind when going out. Further investigation revealed that Jesna had received 18 missed calls from her boyfriend on the day she went missing. Additionally, she had sent him a message saying she didn’t want to live anymore. This discovery led the police to pursue the theory of suicide.
However, this theory soon raised doubts. The CCTV footage of Jesna at the Erumeli bus stand showed her walking calmly, carrying a handbag and a large bag—hardly the behavior of someone planning to end their life. Moreover, Jesna’s friends and family reported that she had no history of mental health issues that would lead to such a drastic action. As a result, the police were unable to reach any conclusions, and the case remained open and unsolved.
The CBI Steps In
As the investigation stalled, the court transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure a more thorough inquiry. The CBI began by questioning everyone connected to Jesna, including her father and boyfriend. They subjected both individuals to polygraph and brain-mapping tests, but no evidence was found linking them to her disappearance. Both men were eventually cleared of any involvement.
The CBI also pursued other leads, including a rumor that Jesna had been seen alive in Mundakayam. However, this lead turned out to be a case of mistaken identity. The woman who resembled Jesna was actually named Aleesha, and she lived in the same village as Jesna’s aunt. This dead end left investigators with no new clues, and as time passed, the case began to grow cold.
In 2020, the CBI submitted a closure report to the court, stating that despite their efforts, they had been unable to locate Jesna. Her family, heartbroken by this news, requested a six-month extension to continue the search. Jesna’s father even presented new evidence to the court, including a dress with bloodstains that he found in her room. However, this evidence was later explained as related to her menstrual cycle, not foul play.
An Ongoing Mystery
Despite the CBI’s extensive investigation, no one has been able to determine what happened to Jesna Maria James on that fateful day in March 2018. Various theories have been floated, from abduction to involvement in a more sinister plot, but none have been proven. Jesna’s family continues to hold out hope for answers, but as the years go by, the likelihood of solving the case grows slimmer.
To this day, Jesna’s disappearance remains one of Kerala’s most baffling mysteries, and the case is still unsolved.
