YULEE, Fla. – Nassau County deputies are searching for a missing 34-year-old mother who didn't show up Sunday to pick up her children.
Joleen Rebecca Cummings was last seen leaving her job at Tangles Hair Salon in Yulee at 5 p.m. Saturday. Her ex-husband reported her missing Sunday after she didn't meet him in Hilliard to pick up their children as planned, deputies said.
Deputies said she may be traveling in a 2006 beige Ford SUV with Florida license plate 035KBQ.
A tip led deputies and family members to search a wooded area for Cummings that was about 2 minutes from the Winn-Dixie where she was supposed to pick up her children on Sunday.
"We don't really know what's going on yet," Jim Simmons, the owner of Tangles Hair Salon, told News4Jax on Monday. "Just really shocked and concerned, very concerned."
Simmons said Cummings has worked at the salon for nearly six years and that she would never take off without her children.
"At this moment, we just want her brought home safely," Simmons said. "If you're a praying person, please pray for her, for a safe return."
According to the missing persons report, Cummings' ex-husband told deputies that she has taken off before.
Five days before she vanished, deputies said, they were called to her home regarding a domestic violence situation between Cummings and her ex-boyfriend. The missing persons report said Cummings didn't want her ex-boyfriend to stay at her house because there was a warrant out for his arrest, but he ran away before deputies arrived.
A neighbor told News4Jax that she called 911 because she heard screams coming from Cummings' home.
"It raises a lot of flags with what happened," said the neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous. "Her kids need her."
The neighbor said she had heard loud yelling between Cummings and her ex-boyfriend before but the most recent incident was worse.
"She was more frantic. I think it was because her kids were there. I don't know if they were there for any other fights, but this one, she was more frantic," the neighbor said.
Cummings, who is described as being 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds, has also used the last name "Jensen" in the past, deputies said. She has blue eyes and blonde hair.
Anyone with information that could help authorities find Cummings or who has a means of contacting her is asked to contact Nassau County Sheriff’s Office Detective Herrington at 904-548-4003.
To remain anonymous and report a crime tip, call the First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS (8477). You can also post tips online at www.fccrimestoppers.com.