14 in St. James Parish, LA (Update: Mother’s Fiance John D. Celestine Arrested on Obstruction of Justice)(Update: Body of Missing Talaija Dorsey Found Deceased)

12 year old Talaija Dorsey has been missing since Tuesday morning, July 1, 2014 in St. James Parish, Louisiana. She was last seen at her home on Pelican Street in St. James. Talaija Dorsey was discovered missing about 7 a.m. when a friend came to pick her up for summer camp. When Talaija’s mother went to get her, she found that her daughter was not in her bedroom.

A 12-year-old girl went missing early Tuesday morning and the the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in finding her.

Talaija Dorsey, who’s described as five-foot and three inches, was last seen at her home on Pelican Street in St. James. Dorsey has brown eyes and black hair.

If anyone has information on her whereabouts, you’re asked to call the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office at 225-562-2200.

UPDATE I: Deputies & Citizens Continue to Search for missing St. James girl, Talaija Dorsey.

On Friday deputies extended their search all the way to Jefferson Parish.

On Saturday Sheriff Martin said deputies continued to search the fields around Dorsey’s residence and along the highways. Sheriff Martin says deputies in surrounding parishes continued their searches as well.

Deputies have been focusing their efforts on less-traveled, rural routes along Highway 3127 in St. Charles Parish. It’s the route Talaija’s soon-to-be stepdad, John Celestine, 42, drives to work everyday.

Deputies are concentrating more and more on Celestine, but have yet to identify his as the suspect. He is being held on obstruction charges in this case. Deputies also say he has a prior, out-of-state arrest for child cruelty against a family member, though he was not charged ultimately in that case.

UPDATE II: John D. Celestine arrested on felony obstruction of justice and a false communication count.

Authorities have made an arrest in the disappearance of a 12-year-old, booking the fiancé of the girl’s mother on obstruction of justice, St. James officials announced late Wednesday.

Deputies booked John D. Celestine, 43, who lived in the Pecan Street home with the family, on felony obstruction of justice and a false communication count, said Maj. Sid Berthelot, a Sheriff’s Office spokesman.

Celestine was being held in the parish jail in Convent awaiting setting of bail. Because of the potential of additional charges against Celestine, investigators are not releasing further information, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

UPDATE III: Body of missing 12-year-old found in St. James Parish.

Officials have announced that the body of a missing 12-year-old girl has been found.

The announcement was made during a Sunday afternoon news conference.

Sheriff Willy J. Martin, Jr., said that 12-year-old Talaija Dorsey’s body was found around 10:20 a.m. Sunday at the edge of a cane field in a wooded area. During the news conference Sheriff Willy said that he took Dorsey’s disappearance personally. He also said that he discovered the body himself.

UPDATE IV: Mother’s fiancé officially named suspect after missing girl found dead in St. James Parish.

The sheriff did confirm that Talaija’s mother’s fiancé, John Celestine, 43, who had been named a person of interest in the case and was charged with obstruction of justice, has been upgraded to a suspect. He is being held at the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office Jail in Convent, and reportedly has not been cooperating with investigators. Louisiana State Police are working forensics at the scene and hope to uncover evidence within the next couple of days to move the case forward.

Martin said he found the body around 10:20 a.m. Sunday. State Police Lt. Todd Toloudis said Martin was searching for the body alone this morning when he found it.