Search for missing woman Jessica Edwards continues as volunteers comb Connecticut river bank

Volunteers searched amid the poison ivy and thick brush beside the Connecticut River Friday, maintaining hope that a woman missing from her South Windsor home since Monday will be found safe.

Jessica Edwards, 30, is the focus of friends, family and police, who have mounted an all-out effort to find her. The married mother of a 7-month-old boy visited her sister and mother Sunday in East Hartford, South Windsor police spokesman Sgt. Mark Cleverdon has said. Her husband told police that she left their South Windsor condominium early Monday and no one has seen her since, Cleverdon said.

On a tip from a family member, Hartford police on Friday searched an area on Manchester Street in the city. Cleverdon said a streaming device connected to Edwards was tracked to that location, but police found nothing of significance as far as he was aware.

Cornell Lewis, who organized one search party at the family’s request, said about 50 volunteers gathered at Riverside Park in East Hartford and fanned out for an all-day search. Kash X, commander of the Huey P. Newton Gun Club of Connecticut, said volunteers from that organization along with Sisters of the Underground and the Self Defense Brigade joined the search.

Cassandra Aberdeen of Windsor, among the volunteers, said she and Edwards had been friends since they worked together at the Aldi supermarket in South Windsor.

“All we did together was laugh,” Aberdeen said. She also said she remains hopeful that her friend will be found safe.

Keren Prescott of PowerUp Manchester, leading another group, said the mood among the searchers was energetic and hopeful.

But Lewis said he heard criticism of the police efforts to find Edwards, particularly compared with the resources devoted to the search for Jennifer Dulos.

“People don’t think they’re extending the proper resources,” Lewis said, “and the effort hasn’t been strenuous enough.”

Cleverdon said the entire department is focused on the search.

“This is our priority,” he said. “It’s all hands on deck.”

Police said they have been talking to local, state and federal authorities, interviewed Edwards’ neighbors and searched for her by land, air and online.

Edwards did not take her own vehicle and her phone is off, Cleverdon said. A student at Manchester Community College, she missed a clinical class at Hartford Hospital on Monday morning.

It is unlike Edwards not to communicate with friends and loved ones, her sister, Yanique Edwards, said. She last saw her sister on Sunday at about 10:45 p.m. at their mother’s house. Jessica was wearing black leggings, a long-sleeve T-shirt and a black vest.

Anyone with information about Edwards’ disappearance, or anything that would help narrow the search, is asked to call South Windsor police immediately at 860-644-2551. Police also have an email tip line on their website (southwindsor-ct.gov/police) and a phone tip line 860-648-6226 for those who wish to remain anonymous.

Jesse Leavenworth can be reached at jleavenworth@courant.com