Body found in creek 2 weeks ago is missing teen, Fort Worth officials say

A body found two weeks ago in Sycamore Creek was identified this week as a 16-year-old Polytechnic High School sophomore whose family reported him missing on April 17.

Jerry “J.J.” Harris was last seen by his family when he set off on foot in the pouring rain, telling family that he was walking to his cousin’s home.

Ten days later, a body was found by an employee of the Sycamore Creek Golf Course, homicide Sgt. Joe Loughman said.

On Wednesday, the Tarrant County medical examiner’s office identified the body using DNA collected from Harris’ relatives, according to a statement from police Thursday night.

“There’s no reason to believe it’s anything but an accidental drowning at this point,” Loughman said.

Initially, Harris was listed as a runaway, but after authorities checked with school officials, the classification was changed to missing person.

A surveillance camera showed him near Dillow Elementary, 4000 Ave. N, running alone in the rain on the morning of April 17.

Joyce Harris, the teen’s paternal grandmother, said she is upset that Fort Worth police initially labeled her grandson a runaway.

“It breaks my heart for them to think we don’t know our own child,” Joyce Harris said. “We were depending on the Fort Worth Police Department to help us.”

Joyce Harris said family and friends were left to organize their own searches for Harris, and also handed out fliers door-to-door. When the school surveillance video of him running was found, an officer incorrectly identified the school, prompting the family to search the wrong area.

“The system did not work,” Joyce Harris said. “I think they didn’t do their jobs properly.”

She said she believes the family is owed an apology and hopes changes are put in place regarding how missing person reports are handled.

“We were sure that J.J. was not a runaway,” Harris added. “They didn’t listen to us. They didn’t take the call right. They didn’t pursue it the right way.”

In a statement Thursday night, police sent condolences to the family.

“For several days after the initial report on April 17, the area was searched by patrol officers, officers from the missing persons unit, the mounted patrol, Fort Worth Fire Department divers and volunteers from the search group Rescue 1 using trained dogs,” the statement said.

Police posted a flier with Harris’ picture on social media. “Throughout the investigation, officers from the missing persons unit were in contact with Mr. Harris’ family,” police said.

On Wednesday, investigators determined from medical examiner records that a body had been found in Sycamore Creek on April 27. “Officers collected DNA from Harris’ relatives and determined the match,” according to the statement.

Staff writer Domingo Ramirez Jr. contributed to this report.

This story was originally published May 12, 2016 at 9:06 AM with the headline "Body found in creek 2 weeks ago is missing teen, Fort Worth officials say."