Missing Cole County woman's case declared a homicide

COLE COUNTY - The case of a missing Cole County woman has been officially named a homicide. The Cole County and Osage County Sheriff’s departments and the Missouri Highway Patrol have formed a multi-jurisdictional task force to investigate the disappearance of Jasmine Haslag who has been missing since June 18, 2007.

Authorities did not release information about any possible suspects or whether or not Haslag’s body has been located. However, they did confirm that the investigation is ongoing and they will continue checking all leads on the case.

Haslag was last seen at her home in Russellville on June 18 when she left to pick up her children at their father’s home near Bland. When she did not arrive, her mother, Peggy Florence became suspicious and filed a missing person’s report with the Cole County Sheriff’s Department on June 21.

A few days after Haslag went missing, her vehicle was found abandoned in a field on Route PP, off of Hwy. 94, between Mokane and Dixie in Callaway County.

Florence said she believed Haslag had become involved in illegal drugs before she disappeared.

She was scheduled to appear in Miller County Associate Circuit Court on July 18. Haslag had been released on a $50,000 bond from drug related charges.

Haslag and her boyfriend Dale Olten were charged with second-degree drug trafficking on May 24 in Eldon. When officers searched the vehicle Olten and Haslag were driving, they confiscated nearly 80 grams of methamphetamine and more than 100 grams of marijuana, a pistol with the serial numbers removed and more than $1,000 in cash.

Florence said her daughter did not have a record before that time.

Anyone with information about the case should contact the Cole County Sheriff’s Department at (573) 634-9160 or the Osage County Sheriff's Department at (573) 619-0099.

Missouri Missing marches with a mission

When Jasmine Haslag went missing in June of 2007, her mother said she was at a loss in many ways.

“I didn’t know where to turn,” said Peggy Florence. “I wasn’t sure what to do or who to talk to and I could not find any help. I found that to be unacceptable.”

Florence teamed up with Marianne Asher-Chapman, Holts Summit, whose daughter Angie Yarnell has been missing from Morgan County for more than four years. Together the two women formed an organization geared to help the families of missing persons in Missouri.

“Missouri Missing is an up and growing organization,” Florence said. “We are still new but in just a few short months we have made serious strides and it is only the beginning. I never want to hear of another family suffering the way that we all have.”

The organization’s web site, www.missourimissing.org, has a listing of the missing adults in Missouri as well as tools useful for the families.

“We are still in the early stages of building the site. It is growing quickly and we are adding more and more information everyday,” Florence said. “As we gather more and more information we will add it to the site. We want it to be a helpful tool for families and for those interested in assisting with our mission. "

Anyone interested in more information about Missouri Missing is urged to send an email to any of the board members.