Joshua Webbe said, “I just pray that God brings my mom home,” to Dateline.
Denise Leary, Joshua’s mother, has been absent for the past two months. The 59-year-old was last observed in New Haven, Connecticut, on September 29, 2024.
Joshua declared, “I’m going to always have her back to the end.”
Denise and her four siblings were raised in Connecticut, their home state. The oldest brother is Michael Leary. He told Dateline, “We were very close.” I was constantly responsible for my sisters’ well-being.
The siblings moved and began their own families when they grew older. With her two children, Joshua, age 20, and his younger sister, Morgan, age 18, Denise made Atlanta her home.
Joshua remarked, “I loved growing up in Atlanta.” My mother always made sure we attended church.
According to Joshua, his mother is his closest friend. He remarked, “I tell her everything, whether I’m in a relationship or going through anything.” I am aware that she is there to mentor and assist me.
According to Joshua, Denise returned to Connecticut after his grandmother suffered a stroke in 2022, but her kids remained in Atlanta. He stated she wanted to look after my granny and grandpa. I moved up here for a short time to help her when I graduated since she needed a little help.
Joshua relocated to New Haven to live with his mother and grandparents. He still resides there now.
Michael Leary also returned to Connecticut a little more than a year ago to assist with his mother’s care. Then, he explained, I discovered that I had a type of cancer, which is why I got locked here.
According to Michael, his final communication with his sister Denise was just a few days prior to her abduction. They were talking about anything from his own health issues to their mother. According to him, “I [had] no idea that she had so much going on in her mind.”
Joshua Webbe claims that his mother had a tough summer in 2024. According to him, she experienced mental health issues, anxiety, and severe depression.
Joshua was concerned about Denise’s behavior a couple nights before she vanished. He remembered that she mentioned she was heading out at around 10:30 p.m. “Turn off my location on my phone,” she said. He claims that he grudgingly followed his mother’s instructions. He recalled, “I tried to see who was picking her up by looking out the window.”
Joshua claims that his mother came home safely later that night, but he was unable to see who was picking her up. He went on to say that he thinks his mother might have been seeing someone while she was unmarried.
Joshua then knocked on her mother’s bedroom door on the morning of September 30, a few days later. He received no reaction. He answered, “Well, perhaps she just needed some time to herself.”
Joshua claims that when his grandmother’s nurse arrived, he became worried. Normally, his mother would emerge from her bedroom to welcome the nurse, but Denise never showed up. He said that no one could enter because the door was locked from the inside. When I phoned my aunt, she suggested that I call paramedics to come and knock on the door.
Joshua claims that after following instructions, the paramedics knocked on the door. He remembers that they said, “Nobody’s in here.” However, the window of the bedroom was open. They claimed that it appeared as though someone had leaped out of the window at that point.
Joshua said responders thought Denise had hung herself out of the window with a wire line. They discovered footprints close to the house as well.
Joshua claims that after his entire family arrived, the hunt for Denise started. According to him, her phone was monitored and initially pinging near Westport, Connecticut. It was traced to a New Haven park half an hour later.
Michael, Denise’s brother, told Dateline, “My brother and I went to one park and he went to another.” Due to my sickness, I was unable to travel very far. I simply gave it my best effort.
They were unable to locate Denise.
Michael claims that he reported his sister missing the following day.
Denise’s case is being looked at by the New Haven Police Department. In an email to Dateline, their office stated that Denise was reported missing by relatives on October 1 and was last seen at her New Haven residence on the evening of September 29, 2024.
The NHPD informed Dateline that they have used K9 units and drones to carry out several searches in the area where Denise was last seen, involving various agencies. The police agency emphasized that the search is still going on and that they are following up on every possible line of inquiry.
Police claim that a family friend saw Denise in Hamden, Connecticut, near Stop & Shop on Dixwell Avenue. The acquaintance noted that Denise did not seem distressed at the time. Additionally, they stated that they have recovered CCTV footage, which is presently undergoing analysis.
According to authorities, there is currently no proof of foul play based on their investigation.
According to Joshua Webbe, New Haven police started the investigation and worked on it for the first two weeks. They were looking everywhere, including in parks. She had all of her numbers in her journal, so they even came to the house and asked for it. Joshua claims that the family also conducted a search. He claims that in the same neighborhood where they reside, they searched an abandoned house. He claims that they discovered Denise’s makeup pallet outside. But within? He claimed that no one was inside.
Joshua claims that on the second day of the search, his mother’s phone was located. He claimed that her phone was in my grandma’s neighborhood, behind a neighbor’s house. Although the NHPD acknowledged that Denise’s phone had been found and stated that an investigation was ongoing, they did not provide the location of the phone’s discovery.
Joshua assured Dateline that he would never give up on finding his mother. I try to remain positive and just be positive like, OK, she s out there somewhere, he said. Perhaps she is lost and cannot be located when she is at home.
Joshua claims that all he wants his mother to know is that he loves her and wants her back home, no matter where she is. My first best buddy has always been that person. She is a mother. Her mother is concerned about her. He described her as a father who is concerned about her. No matter where she is, I have her back. She is always adored.
Michael Leary was in the hospital receiving treatment when he spoke to Dateline. I want her to know how much we adore her. We want her home and get her the help that she needs, he said. Hopefully, I ll be able to hug my sister one day.
Denise is 5 11 and 164 lbs. She has dark brown hair and eyes. She was last seen wearing a black blazer jacket, black hat, dark blue jeans, black boots, and was carrying a multicolored tote bag believed to contain hygiene products.
Anyone with information about Denise s disappearance is asked to call the New Haven Police Department at 203-946-6304 or [email protected]
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