CLOSE TeNiya Jones, 19, a University of Kentucky student, disappeared recently while swimming at a Tel Aviv beach in Israel. Jones is from Fort Myers, Fla. Kinfay Moroti, news-press.com

TeNiya Jones, 19, a 2017 Dunbar High School graduate and University of Kentucky sophomore, was in a seven-week exchange program in Jordan when friends decided to take a weekend trip to Israel before returning to the U.S. next Friday. A University of Kentucky liaison called her mother, Tosha Jones-Mora, bottom right, late Saturday night to say that Jones and two friends had gone swimming around midnight at Bat Yam beach, top right, and were caught in a strong current. All three tried to swim ashore but Jones didn't make it out of the water. (Photo: news-press.com)

A Fort Myers teen on an exchange program in Jordan has disappeared in Tel Aviv, Israel.

TeNiya Jones, 19, a 2017 Dunbar High School graduate and University of Kentucky sophomore, was in a seven-week exchange program in Jordan when friends decided to take a weekend trip to Israel before returning to the U.S. next Friday.

Jones' mother, Tosha Thomas-Mora, received a message late Saturday night telling her Jones was missing.

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Thomas-Mora said she had exchanged text messages with her daughter at 3:30 p.m on Saturday. In Israel it was 10:30 p.m. and her daughter had told her she was "in for the night." Less than eight hours later she received a call from CIEE: Council On International Educational Exchange, which offered the study abroad program through the University of Kentucky.

Bill Bull, the vice president of Health and Safety at the CIEE left her a voice mail message saying her daughter, who was studying in Amman, Jordan, had gone to Israel for the weekend. "I wish to talk to you about what's happening in Tel Aviv and give you some updates," Bull said in a recorded message. "Right now there's concern that she went out swimming and she has not yet returned and it's been about 2 and a half hours. Search and rescue is looking for her and the U.S. Embassy is involved."

TeNiya Jones, 19, of Fort Myers, Florida, was in a seven-week exchange program in Jordan when friends decided to take a weekend trip to Israel before returning to the U.S. They took a swim around midnight at Bat Yam beach, pictured, in a Tel Aviv suburb and were caught in a strong current. (Photo: news-press.com)

When Thomas-Mora called him back Bull said that the teen had gone for a "midnight swim" with two other young people from the exchange program. When they were out in the water they were caught in a rip current. All three swam toward shore, Thomas-Mora said Bull told her, but Jones couldn't be found there. The other students alerted authorities.

Thomas-Mora said she also received a call from the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv. The woman she spoke with told her that the Israeli police are still actively searching for her daughter.

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Bull, reached by telephone, said the U.S. Embassy and the Israeli authorities are assisting and working with a search-and-rescue team to locate Jones.

"There were other students present in Tel Aviv," with Jones, he said, and they are "naturally concerned for the well-being of their friend."

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According to family members those friends were a 20-year-old woman from Washington, D.C. who also attends the University of Kentucky and a 21-year-old man from Illinois who attends West Virginia University.

Thomas-Mora said that her daughter knows how to swim but prefers walking the beach.

Bat Yam beach in a suburb of Tel Aviv, Israel, is known for being less crowded than the city's beaches but still has dining and music. (Photo: news-press.com)

"She's a decent swimmer," Thomas-Mora said, but she had never known her to swim in the Gulf when she went to the beach in Southwest Florida. "The furthest I've known her to go is to stand and wade at the shore of the water and take pictures."

Jones' cousin Jean Davis, one of about 50 distraught relatives who had gathered in Thomas-Mora's home on Dupree Street on Sunday, said she doesn't think Jones would have gone swimming at midnight. "That's not like her," Davis said. "She wouldn't take a risk like that."

In December, Thomas-Mora's son, Samuel Jones Jr., 22, was shot and killed in a double homicide in Lehigh Acres. She has another daughter, 3-year-old Naomi Ruth Mora.

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Jones was in the International Baccalaureate program at Dunbar High School, Thomas-Mora said. Jones was a biology major with a minor in Islamic studies, which was the reason she was studying in Jordan, her mom said. She traveled to Amman in June and was supposed to return to the U.S. next week.

Thomas-Mora is making arrangements to leave for Tel Aviv on Monday.

Jones, her mother said, is an excellent student whose high G.P.A. had helped her earn a spot in the University of Kentucky's premedical program. "She was supposed to start on August 23," Thomas-Mora said before she broke down in tears.

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A University of Kentucky student studying abroad was reported missing after a swimming accident over the weekend in Tel Aviv.



TeNiya Elnora Jones, 19, was swimming in the Mediterranean Sea just after midnight Saturday with two other students when they got caught up in a strong current, according to a news release from the university. Two of the students were able to make it back to the shore, but Jones did not.





Jones is from Ft. Myers, Fla., and a sophomore at University of Kentucky majoring in biology and Islamic studies.She traveled to the region as part of a study-abroad program focused on the Arabic language, according to the University of Kentucky. The program is based in Amman, Jordan, and Jones’ group is made up of seven University of Kentucky students and two from West Virginia University.Four of the students in the study-abroad program traveled by bus to Tel Aviv for the weekend, according to University of Kentucky. One stayed behind in a hotel when the swimming accident occurred.After Jones was caught in the current, the other students contacted Israeli officials and a major search and rescue effort was launched. The search effort continues, according to University of Kentucky.The students also contacted University of Kentucky police and the Council on International Exchange in Portland, Maine, which coordinated the program.“Our thoughts and prayers are with TeNiya, her family and the students and others impacted,” UK President Eli Capilouto said. “We are in continual contact with TeNiya’s family, officials in Israel, officials from the State Department and our Congressional delegation, to provide all the support we can for the family, students and others involved. We will do everything possible to provide whatever support is needed.”Officials with the US Embassy in Israel have been alerted and have been in communication with Jones’ family, the program coordinators and University of Kentucky.University of Kentucky education abroad officials are working to send Jones’ mother and grandfather to Tel Aviv as the search continues, according to the university. Associate Provost Sue Roberts, who heads the International Center at University of Kentucky is also traveling to Tel Aviv to meet with officials and the family.The other students in Tel Aviv are safe and arrangements are being made for them to return to Amman “as soon as possible,” according to University of Kentucky.The university said the families of all of the students involved have been made aware of what happened.The study-abroad program began in June and is scheduled to end this week.©2018 the Lexington Herald-Leader (Lexington, Ky.)Visit the Lexington Herald-Leader (Lexington, Ky.) at www.kentucky.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.</s>July 30 (UPI) -- A University of Kentucky student is missing in Israel, believed to have been caught in a current while swimming.

A school statement said TeNiya Elnora Jones, 19, was swimming with two friends in Tel Aviv after midnight on Sunday, when they were "caught up in a strong current and pulled out to sea."

The woman's friends returned to shore but Jones did not.

Jones, from Fort Myers, Fla., was one of four students who traveled to Tel Aviv by bus from Amman, Jordan, for the weekend. They are part of a nine-student delegation attending a seven-week Council on International Exchange study-abroad program in Amman on the Arabic language.

Jones is a University of Kentucky sophomore majoring in biology and Islamic studies. Her program in Amman is scheduled to end this week.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with TeNiya, her family and the students and others impacted," University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto said in the statement. "We are in continual contact with TeNiya's family, officials in Israel, officials from the State Department and our Congressional delegation, to provide all the support we can for the family, students and others involved. We will do everything possible to provide whatever support is needed."</s>A 19-year-old University of Kentucky student went missing on the western border of Israel late Saturday, just days before her summer abroad program was set to end.

TeNiya Nora Jones and two fellow students ventured out for a swim in the Mediterranean shortly after midnight, when severe rip currents overcame the group.

The two friends were safely pulled back to the shore, but Jones has not been seen since, according to a press release.

Tel Aviv officials are continuing the massive search for Florida-born sophomore, who majors in biology and Islamic studies.

University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto said in the press release Jones had been apart of the group of seven students at the university and two from West Virginia University who traveled by bus from Amman, Jordan to Tel Aviv for the weekend.

Capilouto said university officials with the travel abroad program are working to immediately transport Jones' family to Tel Aviv.

'Our thoughts and prayers are with TeNiya, her family and the students and others impacted,' Capilouto said in the statement.

'We are in continual contact with Teniya's family, officials in Israel, officials from the State Department and our Congressional delegation, to provide all the support we can for the family, students and others involved.

'We will do everything possible to provide whatever support is needed.'

Capilouto added that the university is sending the remainder of students back to Amman before the program concludes this week.

He said family members to the students have each been notified about the incident.

Just hours before her disappearance, Jones shared several bikini-clad photos of herself posing on a Tel Aviv beach.

She captioned the photos: 'just traveling whilst looking beautiful as usual.' Her Facebook friends followed up in the comments with condolence messages praying for her safe return.

Last Sunday, Jones posted a status revealing she was feeling homesick in Amman.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.</s>TeNiya Jones, 19, a 2017 Dunbar High School graduate and University of Kentucky sophomore, was in a seven-week exchange program in Jordan when friends decided to take a weekend trip to Israel before returning to the U.S. next Friday. A University of Kentucky liaison called her mother, Tosha Jones-Mora late Saturday night to say that Jones and two friends had gone swimming around midnight at Bat Yam beach and were caught in a strong current. All three tried to swim ashore but Jones didn't make it out of the water.

A 19-year-old student from Florida in an exchange program in the Middle East drowned while visiting Tel Aviv, according to family members.

TeNiya Jones, 19, of Fort Myers had been missing since Saturday night.

The body of the University of Kentucky sophomore, who was in a seven-week exchange program in Jordan, washed up on a Israeli beach early Monday, according to The Times of Israel. Jones had disappeared off a beach in the Tel Aviv suburb of Bat Yam after entering the water for a late-night swim with two friends and getting caught in a rip current.

She and her friends had decided to take a weekend trip to Israel before returning Friday to the United States.

During the summer, the University of Kentucky, based in Lexington, Kentucky, offers an intensive Arabic-language study program in Amman, Jordan.

Follow Melanie Payne and Dan DeLuca on Twitter: @TellMel and @NewsPressDan</s>TeNiya Jones, 19, a 2017 Dunbar High School graduate and University of Kentucky sophomore, was in a seven-week exchange program in Jordan when friends decided to take a weekend trip to Israel before returning to the U.S. next Friday. A University of Kentucky liaison called her mother, Tosha Jones-Mora late Saturday night to say that Jones and two friends had gone swimming around midnight at Bat Yam beach and were caught in a strong current. All three tried to swim ashore but Jones didn't make it out of the water.

A 19-year-old student from Florida in an exchange program in the Middle East drowned while visiting Tel Aviv, according to family members.

TeNiya Jones, 19, of Fort Myers had been missing since Saturday night.

The body of the University of Kentucky sophomore, who was in a seven-week exchange program in Jordan, washed up on a Israeli beach early Monday, according to The Times of Israel. Jones had disappeared off a beach in the Tel Aviv suburb of Bat Yam after entering the water for a late-night swim with two friends and getting caught in a rip current in the Mediterranean.

The friends, who also were caught in the current, were able to get to shore and rushed to call authorities, according to a press release from the University of Kentucky. Jones and her friends — a 20-year-old woman from the District of Columbia who attends the University of Kentucky and a 21-year-old man from Illinois who attends West Virginia University in Morgantown, according to family — had decided to take a weekend trip to Israel before returning Friday to the United States.

During the summer, the University of Kentucky, based in Lexington, Kentucky, offers an intensive Arabic-language study program in Amman, Jordan. Jones was a biology major with a minor in Islamic studies who had earned a spot in the university's premedical program.

Jones had been an athlete at Fort Myers' Dunbar High School, winning 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles county and district titles before taking silver in the events at regionals. As a high school sophomore won a regional championship in the 300-meter hurdles before suffering an ACL tear.

“She worked her (butt) off,” said Jones' mother, Tosha Thomas-Mora. “She’s really mature for her age. She realized falling down and getting back up is a part of success.”

Follow Melanie Payne and Dan DeLuca on Twitter: @TellMel and @NewsPressDan</s>A 19-year-old student from Florida in an exchange program in the Middle East drowned while visiting Tel Aviv, according to family members.

TeNiya Jones, 19, of Fort Myers had been missing since Saturday night.

The body of the University of Kentucky sophomore, who was in a seven-week exchange program in Jordan, washed up on a Israeli beach early Monday, according to The Times of Israel. Jones had disappeared off a beach in the Tel Aviv suburb of Bat Yam after entering the water for a late-night swim with two friends and getting caught in a rip current in the Mediterranean.

The friends, who also were caught in the current, were able to get to shore and rushed to call authorities, according to a press release from the University of Kentucky. Jones and her friends — a 20-year-old woman from the District of Columbia who attends the University of Kentucky and a 21-year-old man from Illinois who attends West Virginia University in Morgantown, according to family — had decided to take a weekend trip to Israel before returning Friday to the United States.

During the summer, the University of Kentucky, based in Lexington, Kentucky, offers an intensive Arabic-language study program in Amman, Jordan. Jones was a biology major with a minor in Islamic studies who had earned a spot in the university's premedical program.

Jones had been an athlete at Fort Myers' Dunbar High School, winning 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles county and district titles before taking silver in the events at regionals. As a high school sophomore won a regional championship in the 300-meter hurdles before suffering an ACL tear.

“She worked her (butt) off,” said Jones' mother, Tosha Thomas-Mora. “She’s really mature for her age. She realized falling down and getting back up is a part of success.”

Follow Melanie Payne and Dan DeLuca on Twitter: @TellMel and @NewsPressDan</s>LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - A student from the University of Kentucky who was studying abroad in the Middle East this summer is missing this weekend following a swimming accident in Tel Aviv, Israel.

TeNiya Elnora Jones, a sophomore, was swimming on Saturday in the Mediterranean Sea with two other students. Jones, 19, who is from Ft. Meyers, Florida, was studying in a summer program focusing on Arabic language.

One of the students swimming with Jones said they were pulled out to sea after being caught up in a strong current. The other two students made it back to the shoreline -- but Jones did not.

Israeli officials initiated a massive search and rescue effort once students called them, an effort which is continuing, UK said.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with TeNiya, her family and the students and others impacted,” said UK President Eli Capilouto. “We are in continual contact with Teniya’s family, officials in Israel, officials from the State Department and our Congressional delegation, to provide all the support we can for the family, students and others involved. We will do everything possible to provide whatever support is needed.”

Students contacted the UK Police and the Council on International Exchange, the program's coordinator, which is based in Portland, Maine. CIEE is a well-known education abroad provider which has worked with the University of Kentucky before.

Jones' family was alerted to the situation on Saturday evening by CIEE officials. Officials from UK's Education Abroad program have also been in contact with the family over the past 24 hours, a statement said.

The US Embassy in Israel has been alerted and has been in communication with CIEE, UK and Jones' family for the past 24 hours.</s>A University of Kentucky student spending the summer in Israel has gone missing after she was swept out to sea while swimming at a beach in Tel Aviv just days before she was scheduled to return home.

The university said TeNiya Elnora Jones, a 19-year-old sophomore, was swimming with two other students shortly after midnight on Sunday when they were "caught up in a strong current and were pulled out to sea."

Two of the students were able to make it back to the shore, but Jones was not.

Officials conducted a "major search and rescue effort" that was unsuccessful in locating the woman, according to the university.

Jones was part of a group of seven students, including five from the University of Kentucky, studying Arabic in Amman, Jordan, since June. The university said she and three other students traveled to Tel Aviv for the weekend.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with TeNiya, her family and the students and others impacted," said Kentucky President Eli Capilouto. "We are in continual contact with Teniya's family, officials in Israel, officials from the State Department and our Congressional delegation, to provide all the support we can for the family, students and others involved. We will do everything possible to provide whatever support is needed."

The school said it was in contact with the Council on International Exchange, which runs the program Jones was a part of, as well as officials at the U.S. Embassy in Israel.

Jones' mother and grandfather are traveling to Tel Aviv from her hometown of Fort Myers, Florida.

The summer abroad program was scheduled to end this week.</s>The University of Kentucky says a student studying abroad went missing while swimming with friends in the Mediterranean Sea.A statement from the school says 19-year-old TeNiya Elnora Jones of Fort Myers, Florida, was swimming with two other Kentucky students when they got caught in a strong current and were pulled out to sea. Officials said the other students were able to make it back to the shoreline.A spokesman for Israeli police confirmed that a person was reported missing in the sea on Saturday. Search teams teams began sweeping the area with helicopters, drones, divers, boats and jet skis, Israeli police said. They found a body Monday morning. The spokesman said the body has not yet been identified.Jones, from Fort Myers, Florida, is a biology major who is also studying Islamic Studies, her university said. She is participating in an overseas summer program focused on the Arabic language.The US Embassy in Israel said it has been providing consular services to Jones' family. The school is sending a representative to Tel Aviv and is making travel arrangements for Jones' mother and grandfather.
TeNiya Elnora Jones, a University of Kentucky student studying abroad in the Middle East, is reported missing after a swimming accident over the weekend in Tel Aviv, Israel.