5 Teens Missing from Castle Hill Group Home

The NYPD says five female teens have gone missing from a foster home on Howe Avenue in the Castle Hill section between May 14 and June 7. -Photo by David Greene

By David Greene 

Bronx Voice

July 1, 2025

BRONX - The NYPD is asking for the public's help in locating five female teenagers who have gone missing from a group home in Castle Hill—the teens disappeared on different days within a 24-day span.

All of the teens were from a group home on Howe Avenue that is run by the non-profit Catholic Guardian Services (CGS) which is affiliated with and shares office space in the same building as the Archdiocese of New York.

According to the NYPD, Jy-Lee Connor, 14, went missing after she left the group home at 7 p.m. on May 14 and has not returned. She is described as female with brown eyes, 5 foot 6’ tall and weighs 120 pounds.

Jayleen Suarez, 15, was reported missing after she left the home at 7:30 a.m. on May 23. She is described as being 5 foot 2 and weighing 105 pounds. She was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt, blue jeans and red crocs.

On May 27, Jailynn Gray, 16, was reported missing after she left the residence at 7:55 a.m. Police describe her as female, with a dark complexion, medium build and 5 feet, 3 inches tall. She was last seen wearing a grey skirt, black T-shirt, grey sweater and black sneakers.

The fourth teen, Dezi Whittingham, 15, was reported missing after leaving the private house at 12:45 p.m. on May 31. Whittingham has brown eyes and is 5 foot 6 and weighs 140 pounds. She was last seen wearing a purple shirt, blue jeans and black sneakers.

Police identified the fifth missing teen as Yelena Baergea, 17, who has not been seen since she left the home at 12 noon on June 7. She was described as a female with a light complexion and brown hair, medium build and stands at 5-foot 4and weighs 150 pounds. She was last seen wearing a black shirt and multicolored pants.

The Bronx Voice visited the home on June 8, and was told no one was missing from the home. A worker from the home called a supervisor “Mrs. Hobert” and then refused to give any information on the organization that runs it.

On June 11, the Bronx Voice contacted a former resident of the home who stated that the home is for pregnant teens in the foster care system and that she had stayed at the home six years ago.

Asked how she was treated by staff, the young woman replied, “Like shit.” She added, “These staff members (are) basically there for a paycheck. So, they did not care about your wellbeing.” She also claimed that when the young women went to school, staff members would place the infants in the center of the living room—and watch TV. She called the home a “toxic environment.”

On June 23, a 7-year resident of the block called the home, “a disgrace.” He continued, “The kids are out in the road late at night until 1-2 o’clock in the morning… there’s always a problem there.” He claimed every week the NYPD is at the home. The resident and fellow neighbors were unaware that five teens are currently missing from the home.

When reached by phone on June 11, Mrs. David, a supervisor at CGS, said, “I can’t talk to you,” before leaving the line open for several minutes while she attended a work meeting regarding the home. When David returned, she vowed to have her supervisor return the call. The call was never returned.

According to CGS’s page on Wikipedia, CGS had an operating budget for fiscal year 2022 – 2023 of $84,305,683 with more than $82 million paid by taxpayers. Their website also states that CGS is “sponsored by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York.” It also boasts that they have 34 residential facilities.

On June 11, the Bronx Voice left a voicemail message for Luz Tavarez at Catholic Charities and an email request for comment was sent to the Archdiocese of New York, neither have responded.

A source at the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) could not go into specific details of cases or specific homes, but stated, “The Administration for Children’s Services protects and ensures the well-being of New York City children and families.” The source added that they provide preventive services daily to 27,000 children as well as overseeing the 17,000 children housed at 44 foster care agencies across the city.

Heather Guerino of Crusaders for Children’s Rights told the Bronx Voice, “I have been complaining in reference to these foster care agencies since 2023.” She added, “These foster agencies that are getting millions of dollars in funding and they’re not providing the proper mental health services for the children and teens in their care.”

If you suspect child abuse or neglect you are asked to call 1 (800) 342-3720, if a child is in imminent danger you are urged to call 911.

Anyone with any information on the five teens missing from Castle Hill, you are asked to call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 577-TIPS, all calls remain confidential.