FREDERICKTOWN — The search continues for 17-year-old Mercedes Erwin who has been missing since April 4. Mount Vernon Police Detective Jeff Jacobs believes that Erwin is with a companion, James “Buck” Ervin.
“We think they are together,” said Jacobs. “As soon as we can locate him, I think we will find her. It’s a matter of him turning up.”
Jacobs added that there is a warrant out for Ervin’s arrest. He was indicted in January on a charge of breaking and entering. He has a jury court date set for May 4 on a charge of resisting arrest and was charged with obstruction of justice on April 3. Jacobs does consider Ervin to be a dangerous person.
Mercedes Erwin was last seen by her mother Christina Mills, on April 4 at 7:30 a.m., when leaving for school at the Knox County Career Center. Erwin was reportedly seen on surveillance camera at 10 a.m. at the school.
Erwin was wearing a dark gray hooded shirt, red sweatpants and high-top tennis shoes on April 4. She has blonde hair, is 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighs 145 pounds and wears brown framed glasses. It is believed she may be with a male companion, James Ervin, 22, Mount Vernon, who has short blond hair, is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 145 pounds.
The Fredericktown Police Department has been working with the Mount Vernon Police Department and the Ohio Attorney General’s Office on this case.
If anyone does see Ervin or Erwin or has any information on the case, they are encouraged to call the Mount Vernon Police Department’s Detective Division at 392-9536 or the Knox County Sheriff’s Office at 397-3333.
