Overview of Lisa Irwin
Lisa Irwin was only 11 months old when she vanished from her Kansas City, MO home on October 4, 2011. She was born on November 11, 2010, to her parents Deborah Bradley and Jeremy Irwin, and has two older brothers.
The day Lisa went missing. On October 3, 2011, Jeremy Irwin returns home around 2:30 pm from his job as an electrician. He watched the kids while Deborah got some rest. Around 4:45 pm, Deborah and her brother are seen on surveillance footage going to a supermarket. They are seen shopping around the store and purchasing baby food and boxed wine. While Deborah was qt the grocery store, Samantha Brando, a next-door neighbor and friend of the family checked on Lisa in her crib along with her young daughter. Jeremy is home is also home with the kids.
By 5:00 pm, Deborah and her brother return home. A half-hour later, Jeremy got a call for a night gig doing electrical work at a local Starbucks. It was rare that Jeremy was called in for night shifts but the family needed the money. He told Deborah he planned to return home by 10 pm.
Deborah put baby Lisa to bed around 6:40 pm. Samantha came over and the two sat on the porch smoking cigarettes and drinking while their other children played. By 10:30 pm, Samantha leaves, and Deborah’s two boys fall asleep in her bed. Earlier that day, Deborah found a stray kitten which she took in. Before Deborah herself went to bed, she placed three cell phones on the kitchen counter, which were shut off due to non-payment. Samantha was on the porch until 11:30 chatting with another neighbor. However, according to phone records at 11:57 pm, a call was attempted from one of the three phones left on the counter to a woman named Megan.
Strangely, Deborah and Jeremy do not know a woman named Megan. Detectives looked back at phone records and could not find a connection between Jeremy and Deborah to Megan. An eyewitness claims that a person who lived in the same house as Megan picked up her phone. This witness was never identified and it was believed he gave authorities a fake name.
When Lisa is discovered missing. Jeremy returns home from his night gig around 3:30 am. Upon entering the home he was annoyed to find most of the lights were left on. Jeremy took note of some oddities in the home. He noticed that Deborah took in a stray kitten, the front door was unlocked and the computer room window was pushed in. He then proceeds to check on his wife and children and notices that Lisa is not in her crib. Lisa’s parents check the entire house with the exception of the backyard because Deborah was afraid of what she might find.
Once Lisa was reported missing, a witness came forward with information. While the witness’ name was never made public they told officials that they saw a man walking with a baby around 4 am. The witness recalls that morning being very cold and the Lisa was not dressed appropriately for the cold weather - which they found suspicious.
On October 6, 2011, police responded to a nearby dumpster fire only a few blocks away from the Irwin residence. There was evidence of burnt baby clothes found inside the dumpster. While the articles of clothing did not match what Lisa was wearing the night she went missing law enforcement believes it could be other clothing that Lisa owned. Law enforcement has not confirmed if this incident is directly related to Lisa’s case.
The following day, Deborah took a polygraph test. She is told that she failed, but it is later revealed that this was an interrogation tactic because the police couldn’t establish if she was connected to Lisa’s disappearance.
On October 17, 2011, the FBI executed a search warrant on the home. Cadaver dogs were also brought in and identified as a positive location of remains in Irwin's bedroom. Law enforcement also obtained several items including " a multicolor comforter, purple shorts, a multicolor Disney character shirt, a Glo Worm toy, a "Cars"-themed blanket, rolls of tape, and a tape dispenser.". They were also taking carpet samples, and digging up the backyard.
Where the case stands today. Oddly enough, in May 2012 Jeremy’s debit card was used on a website known for name-changing services. It was a British website and he was charged $69.04. It is speculated that this website can be used to purchase birth certificates. Lisa’s case remains unsolved. Her parents, while they have been considered as persons of interest, have not been formally charged in connection to Lisa’s disappearance.
