JACKSON, Miss. — A heartbreaking mystery is unfolding across state lines as authorities confirm the death of a missing Jackson woman while the desperate search continues for her 3-year-old daughter.

Shardee McGill, 33, and her young daughter, Janae, were last seen Sunday traveling in a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. On Thursday, Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones confirmed the devastating discovery of Shardee’s body in a shallow body of water in Alabama. The vehicle she had been driving was later found abandoned.

The news has sent shockwaves through the Jackson community, where neighbors and loved ones are clinging to hope that little Janae will be found safe. Vigils and prayers are already being organized as family and friends plead for answers in the midst of tragedy.

“This is every parent’s worst nightmare,” one community member shared. “We are praying that Janae is located and returned home safely.”

Authorities from both Mississippi and Alabama are working together as the investigation intensifies. Search crews, law enforcement officers, and volunteers remain on high alert, urging anyone with information about Janae’s whereabouts to come forward immediately.

As grief weighs heavy over the loss of Shardee McGill, the community is uniting in faith and determination, refusing to give up hope for her daughter.

The investigation remains ongoing.