Police: suspect helped search for Jessica White before he confessed to killing her

HAZEL PARK, Mich. (WJBK) - Two weeks after a Troy woman was last seen, she's found dead hidden inside of a Hazel Park home.

Police said Jessica White's boyfriend, Jordan McClanahan, led them to her body inside the home. Police said the two had been friends since grade school and McClanahan will likely be charged with murdering the 21-year-old woman.

Hazel Park Police Chief Martin Barner said that White was last seen on April 23 and they believe that was the day she was killed.

"We believe that the day she was reported missing on April 23 was the day that she was murdered," Barner said.

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Police searched the home on East Woodward Heights in Hazel Park multiple times before - and even did so with the help of the accused killer.

"It's disturbing to know that this person was assisting the family in attempting to locate a person he knew," Barner said.

Troy police had the lead on the investigation when it was a missing persons case but that changed Tuesday night around 8 o'clock when McClanahan told Troy police he was responsible for White's death.

With that information they searched the his room and found White wrapped up and stuffed into a storage closet in his room. They said only he would have access to that hiding place.

For neighbors on Woodward Heights, the investigation is disturbing.

"I remember a young girl always over there...but I was in shock," Patty Whittaker said.

Police say the suspect's family is cooperating with the investigation and are not considered suspects. They did not respond to FOX 2's request for comments.

Police said it was difficult to get a positive ID on the body. The medical examiner said White was strangled.