James, circa 1997

Angelique James
Missing since February 15, 1997 from Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
Classification: Endangered Missing

Vital Statistics

• Date Of Birth: October 2, 1992
• Age at Time of Disappearance: 4 years old
• Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 3'6"; 40 lbs.
• Distinguishing Characteristics: Black female. Black hair; brown eyes. She has a fracture in her left arm that is visible only on an x-ray; she was born with one of her legs and arms shorter than the other.
• Marks, Scars: Angelique has burn scars on top of one foot.

Circumstances of Disappearance
James was last seen in her family's home in Los Angeles, California on February 15, 1997.
Authorities believe Angelique was killed between December 15, 1996, and March 1, 1997 by her mother, Shirley Ann James. Shirley James, failed to comply when authorities inquired as to her daughter's whereabouts. Shirley was arrested in November 1997, nine months after Angelique disappeared, when authorities demanded she produce the child and she did not. She was charged with Angelique's presumed murder, as well as three counts of child abuse and two counts of corporal injury to a child. Shirley has seven other children in addition to Angelique. One of them, a nine-month-old daughter, died in 1992, apparently of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The baby's death was reviewed by homicide investigators after Angelique's disappearance, but no charges were filed.
Shirley was sentenced to five years in prison in 1998, but Angelique's body has never been found.

Investigators
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
323-890-5500
Email

Agency Case #: LA sheriff 97-21648-21

NCMEC #: NCMC840165

NCIC Number: Not Entered
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.

Source Information:
Child Search Ministries
The Charley Project