stephanie

Marlee Flook’s mother traveled from Louisiana to Massachusetts, finally held her missing daughter in her arms, and begged her to come home. 🥺 Marlee (18) refused. And now her mother is revealing something else. Someone the family trusted allegedly knew about the entire plan and helped Marlee prepare for the confrontation. Joni Lee Self says she and her husband, Robert, traveled to Fairhaven, Massachusetts, where police accompanied them to the residence where Marlee is staying with Derek Simmons Westgate (34). Joni was finally able to hold her daughter and speak to her face-to-face. But Marlee told her parents she wasn’t leaving. Joni says she sobbed uncontrollably as she said goodbye while Derek watched. She then confronted him, asking how he would feel if someone did this to his own daughter. According to Joni, his response was simply, “I understand.” I cannot imagine traveling across the country, finally getting your arms around your child, and then having to leave her there. But there’s another development. Joni now alleges that a female friend of her daughters, someone she had welcomed into her home, fed, and driven around, knew about Derek and the plan all along. And apparently, knowing wasn’t enough. According to Joni, this friend encouraged Marlee to continue with the plan even after she arrived in Massachusetts. She also allegedly coached Marlee on what to say when her mother arrived, how to behave, and how to appear composed during their confrontation. Joni says the friend even advised Marlee to report her mother to police if she laid a hand on her. WHAT?! Remember, Derek’s wife, A.J. West, has publicly alleged that Derek was communicating with Marlee and exchanging explicit photographs before she turned 18. Messages A.J. shared from Marlee’s older sister also allege the two had been communicating since August. Now we’re learning that someone close to Marlee’s own family allegedly knew about the situation and encouraged it. How many people knew what was happening before Marlee disappeared on October 31? And how long had all of this been planned? Joni says Fairhaven police are working around the clock, but she cannot publicly discuss that aspect of the case. She and Robert are remaining in Massachusetts for now. Meanwhile, their other children are struggling so badly with the situation and the attention surrounding it that Joni says they haven’t been able to attend school. Marlee is alive. Her parents have seen her. But she still hasn’t returned home. One more thing that makes this especially heartbreaking. Marlee is still a high school student, scheduled to graduate in 2027. She should be looking forward to graduation, making plans for her future, and enjoying her senior year. Instead, her family is hundreds of miles from home, desperately trying to convince her to come back.

So Christa Pike’s fan club is now going after Colleen Slemmer’s family on social media. Apparently Colleen was a bully, Christa was just standing up for herself, and things simply got out of hand. 😤 They’re actually saying this stuff to Colleen’s stepfather. Imagine having to defend your murdered daughter’s character 30 years later because people are so desperate to defend her killer. Absolutely disgusting.

MISSING - PLEASE SHARE Marlee Flook (18) just celebrated her birthday. She’s still in high school, and now her family is desperately searching for her. Marlee was last seen leaving a gym in Vivian, Louisiana, around 4:45pm on October 31, reportedly getting into a white sedan with a 34-year-old man she met online. His name is Derek and he is reportedly from Massachusetts. Her family fears she may have been groomed. According to information they have received from her sibling and friends, the man had allegedly been sending Marlee money and gift cards before they met. The unidentified man flew into Shreveport from out of state, and the family believes they may be traveling toward Missouri through Arkansas. Marlee’s phone was last tracked near I-49 and I-220 in the Shreveport area. She is 5’9”, approximately 120 lbs, with blue eyes and long brown hair. She also has a distinctive butterfly tattoo running down her back. I want to know how long this grown man had been communicating with a girl who only recently turned 18. If you recognize Marlee or the vehicle, please contact the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-675-2170. Please share. Her family needs answers.