Daffany Tullos, 7: A Mississippi Mystery Since 1988
Many children argue with their parents, but a tiff between Daffany Tullos and her mother would lead to the seven-year-old’s disappearance. Daffany was said to have lived in Azalea Circle in north Jackson, Mississippi, with her grandparents back in 1988. In the thick of summer on July 26, Daffany and her mother reportedly fought over fish sticks that evening. Daffany was so upset that she stormed out of the house between 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Following the disagreement, Daffany was seen walking toward Northside Drive, but her destination was unclear. The girl’s mother lived nearby on Bailey Drive. Her family grew increasingly concerned when the vibrant child didn’t arrive home shortly after blowing off steam. She knew she had to be home before dark, and Daffany wasn’t the type of kid who would be outside in the evening, especially alone and on foot.
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“We scoured the neighborhoods, went over several blocks,” Stephanie Tullos, Daffany’s aunt, told WJTV in 2021. “We had several people from the neighborhood helping us to search for her.”
There were a few close calls when relatives believed they located Daffany. “We’ve had times when we thought we found her, but it was not her, and it’s heartbreaking. You have to go through that, but if she came home, that would truly be a blessing,” said Stephanie.
The day Daffany went missing, the father of her twin brothers, Ernest Lee Epps, was released from jail on bail. Reports state an investigation cleared Daffany’s father, who has since passed away, as a suspect. However, authorities were looking at Epps as a person of interest. There were allegations that in June 1988, just one month before Daffany disappeared, Epps sexually abused her. She was said to have told her aunt about the inappropriate encounter that occurred while Daffany was sleeping.
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On July 8, Epps was arrested in connection with the allegations, but he fiercely denied the accusations. While facing a sexual battery charge, Epps reportedly attempted to bribe Daffany’s family with a $175 offer. He requested they take the money and drop the charges, but the family refused. Investigators were unable to find evidence to tie Epps to Daffany Tullos’s disappearance.
At the time of her disappearance, Daffany Tullos stood 3 feet 7 inches tall and weighed 55 pounds. Her hair was black/dark brown and was styled in a short, curly Jheri curl. Both of her ears are pierced. Daffany is epileptic and did not have her medicine when she left her home. She was last seen wearing a blue and white striped shirt with multi-colored walking shorts while barefoot. Her middle name is “Sherika.” Daffany would be 42 years old at the time of this publication.
Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at (601) 360-7713, the Jackson Police Department at (601) 960-1234, or their local authorities. The agency case number is 88-23229.
Please share this story about Daffany Tullos to help reignite interest in this cold case. She is our sister, and her life matters.
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