Henderson Police Probe Discovery of Body Believed to Be Missing Girl

Authorities in Henderson are investigating the discovery of a deceased female in a desert area near Desert Sunflower Circle and Spanish Needle Street on Sunday morning. 

While the identity has not yet been officially confirmed, the body matches the description of 17-year-old Jennaleah “Jenna” Hin, who had been reported missing last week.

Hin was last seen leaving her home on Grove Park Street on Monday, December 30, at 8:46 p.m. without taking any supplies or her phone. 

She reportedly left following a disagreement with her parents, described by a search official as a “normal family dispute.” 

Stepfather Corey Swanson declined to comment on the recent developments, with a family spokesperson stating he would not be responding to texts or calls.

The discovery was made after a passerby spotted the body and alerted authorities. 

“There Does Not Appear to Be Signs of Foul Play”

Henderson police and fire crews arrived at the scene at 10:42 a.m. and determined the description matched that of the missing teen. 

According to a statement from Henderson Police, there were no signs of foul play.

“Henderson Detectives responded to the scene, and based on preliminary investigations, there does not appear to be signs of foul play,” read the police statement released yesterday afternoon. 

The Clark County Coroner’s Office is currently working on confirming the identity and notifying the next of kin.

In the days leading up to the discovery, search efforts intensified, with concerns growing about the teen’s ability to survive in the harsh desert environment without food or water. 

Red Rock Search and Rescue Commander Mark Speer described the situation as increasingly dire, saying, “Every day is more critical than the prior day.”

The search involved helicopters, drones, search dogs, and volunteers on motorcycles and horses. 

Last week, a trained dog briefly picked up Hin’s scent, but searchers were unable to locate her in Clark County’s city that hosts Penn Entertainment’s extended M Resort Spa Casino and an Aristocrat manufacturing facility. 

Straight-A Student With Plans to Become a Nurse 

Speer described Hin as “exemplary in every way” and someone who “never had any problems with mom and dad” or any “issues with running away or with law enforcement.”

According to Las Vegas TV station KSNV, the teenager is a straight-A student at Foothill High School in Henderson with plans to attend nursing school.

As news of the discovery spread, community members created a makeshift memorial at the site, leaving flowers in her honor. 

Many took to social media to express their condolences, with one user writing, “This is horrific. Thoughts are with her family and everyone who knew her.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Henderson Police or Crime Stoppers, with tips leading to a felony arrest or an indictment processed via Crime Stoppers’ phone line or website potentially eligible for a cash reward.