Case Summary
- Case Type
- Missing Persons
- Incident Date
- Sept. 16
- Location
- Children's Harbor, Pembroke Pines, FL
- Investigating Agency
- Pembroke Pines Police Department
- Suspect
- Jaylee Santiago
- Case Status
- Active
Officers from the Pembroke Pines Police Department are requesting assistance from the public to locate a missing 17-year-old girl named Jaylee Santiago, who was last seen on Sept. 16 in Pembroke Pines, Florida, according to law enforcement authorities.
Investigators reported that Santiago was last seen at Children's Harbor in Pembroke Pines before departing the area in a gold Chevrolet Malibu. Local authorities are asking anyone with information regarding her current whereabouts to contact law enforcement immediately.
Incident Overview
According to official statements from the Pembroke Pines Police Department, 17-year-old Jaylee Santiago disappeared on Sept. 16. Authorities indicated that she was located at Children's Harbor, a regional facility in Pembroke Pines, Florida, prior to her disappearance. She subsequently left the premises traveling inside a gold Chevy Malibu.
Police have released physical details to assist the community in identifying the missing teenager. Santiago stands 5 feet 3 inches tall. At the time she was last seen, she was wearing a beige crop top along with a blue jean skirt. Law enforcement officials have not released additional details regarding her expected destination or intended direction of travel.
Victim Information
The individual at the center of the missing person search is identified by law enforcement as 17-year-old Jaylee Santiago. According to police descriptions, Santiago is a juvenile female standing 5 feet 3 inches tall. At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing a beige crop top and a blue jean skirt. Because Santiago is a minor, law enforcement agencies handle her case under specialized juvenile missing person protocols to ensure rapid public notification and coordinated response across local jurisdictions.
Police Response
Upon receiving the initial report regarding Santiago's disappearance, the Pembroke Pines Police Department initiated a missing person investigation. Responding officers gathered physical descriptions, documented vehicle details, and circulated missing person bulletins to patrol officers throughout Broward County. Police dispatched alerts across regional communication networks to assist in locating the teenager and the gold Chevy Malibu.
Investigation
The investigation into Santiago's disappearance remains active under the primary direction of the Pembroke Pines Police Department. Detectives are reviewing available details, analyzing tips provided by community members, and coordinating search efforts with regional law enforcement partners across South Florida. Police efforts remain focused on verifying reported sightings and tracing the movement of the gold Chevy Malibu identified in connection with her departure from Children's Harbor.
Evidence Collected
Physical and descriptive items documented by law enforcement officers during the initial response include:
- Vehicle description: A gold Chevrolet Malibu in which Santiago was seen leaving Children's Harbor.
- Clothing description: A beige crop top and a blue jean skirt worn at the time of her disappearance.
- Physical characteristics: Height documented at 5 feet 3 inches.
Charges Filed
No criminal charges have been filed in connection with this matter, as the case is currently handled strictly as a missing person investigation. Under standard criminal procedure, missing juvenile reports do not automatically involve criminal allegations unless subsequent investigation uncovers evidence of unlawful conduct such as custodial interference, endangerment, or kidnapping.
In Florida, missing youth investigations prioritize locating the individual safely rather than initiating criminal prosecution. If an investigation eventually reveals that an adult intentionally concealed or harbored a runaway minor without parental or legal guardian consent, potential legal charges under state law could include interference with custody or contributing to the delinquency of a minor. However, law enforcement authorities have not indicated any evidence of criminal wrongdoing or foul play in relation to Santiago's current absence.
Court Information
Because this matter is an active missing person search and no formal criminal charges or civil petitions have been lodged, there is no active court docket, case number, or scheduled court hearing associated with this case.
In proceedings involving missing juveniles, formal court intervention typically occurs only under specific procedural circumstances. For example, if emergency dependency petitions, protective custody orders, or investigative warrants become necessary, filings would be processed through the Circuit Court of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, which serves Broward County, Florida. Until such formal legal actions are deemed necessary, the case remains an administrative law enforcement search managed directly by the Pembroke Pines Police Department.
Statements from Authorities
The Pembroke Pines Police Department issued an open appeal seeking information from members of the community who may have seen Santiago or observed the gold Chevy Malibu. Authorities stated that officers are seeking the public's help in finding the missing teenager and instructed anyone with relevant information to contact police directly at 954-743-1639.
Public Safety Information
Members of the public who observe Jaylee Santiago, spot a vehicle matching the description of the gold Chevy Malibu, or possess information regarding her current location are advised not to intervene directly but to contact law enforcement authorities immediately. Providing specific details such as exact location, time of sighting, direction of travel, and vehicle license plate numbers can assist police search efforts. Information can be reported directly to the Pembroke Pines Police Department by calling 954-743-1639 or by dialing emergency services at 911. For matters involving missing youth, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children can also be contacted at 1-800-843-5678.
What Happens Next
The Pembroke Pines Police Department will continue its search efforts, following up on leads provided by community members and law enforcement partners. Detectives will maintain monitoring of regional transit routes and tips submitted via telephone. Should additional details emerge regarding Santiago's location or physical safety, police officials will issue updated public notices. Once she is located, law enforcement officers and relevant social service agencies will conduct standard wellness checks and administrative protocols prior to closing the missing person report.
