Police in western Michigan have named a person of interest in the case of Jessica Heeringa, who has been missing since 2013.
The Norton Shores Police Department announced Monday that Jeffrey Willis is now considered a person of interest in Heeringa's missing case. Police are working to determine if Willis, who is a suspect in a Muskegon County abduction case, also is connected to Heeringa's case. Willis, 46, is charged with trying to kidnap a 16-year-old girl this year near Muskegon.
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Last week, the Muskegon County Sheriff denied any connection between the attempted abduction of the teen and Heeringa's case, despite reports that law enforcement were linking the two.
Read back: Sheriff: Arrest in abduction attempt not linked to Jessica Heeringa missing case, despite report
Heeringa, a gas station clerk, went missing April 26, 2013 right before she was set to close the Exxon Mobile station on Sternberg Road in Norton Shores, near Muskegon.
Back in 2013, police said Heeringa, 25, may have known her abductor because there was no sign of a struggle. However, tests done on blood droplets found at the gas station came back positive for Heeringa's blood.
A man called 911 when he arrived at the Exxon Mobile station and found it unattended.
"It's very suspicious that there's nobody here," he said. "I hollered, 'Hey!' you know, walked around the building. It's just, I don't know, I mean, they're supposed to be open ... the cashier is supposed to be there, but I don't see anybody."
Listen back: Driver calls 911 after finding gas station unattended
Police were sorting through more than 2,000 tips in the case. But it's been three years and there is no sign of Heeringa or a possible suspect in the case -- until now.
Here is a surveillance image police released of what might be a suspect's vehicle in the case -- the silver minivan:
Watch: Surveillance video from bar which shows minivan
Police also released a sketch of a man who was considered a person of interest in Heeringa's case. Here is that sketch, which was released back in April 2013:
