MERIDIAN, Mississippi — Philadelphia Police Chief Eric Lyons said 15-year-old Joleen Catherine Hatten of Philadelphia has been reported missing after she was last seen April 13 along Highway 39 North in Meridian.
Lyons described Hatten as 5-foot-4 and about 125 pounds. She was wearing a yellow Lululemon sweater, black pants and tan shoes when she was last seen, he said. Authorities say she was reported as a runaway.
Officials are asking the public to come forward with any information. Anyone with knowledge of Hatten’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Meridian Police Department at 601-485-1893 or the Philadelphia Police Department at 601-656-2131, Lyons said.
Police did not provide further details about the circumstances surrounding Hatten’s disappearance. Authorities remind the public that timely information can be critical in cases involving missing juveniles. This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.
Jon Ross Myers founded Mississippi News Group in 2013. Before founding the organization, he worked at The Daily Mississippian, The Marion Salute and The Southern Sentinel. A Mississippi journalist and writer based in Ripley, he received second place in poetry in the 2025 William Faulkner Literary Competition for "The Garden."
Stay connected
Mississippi, wherever you are.
Follow our coverage on Facebook and watch Mississippi News Group on YouTube.
