New charges have been filed in Etowah County against Mark Host and Rachel Sears, adding to the cases that have been pending since 2021.
Host and Sears were arrested in November 2021. They were later indicted in March 2022 on charges of Rape in the First Degree and Sexual Abuse Using an Inanimate Object. Both have remained in custody at the Etowah County Jail since that time.
In March 2026, a grand jury returned additional indictments. They charged both Host and Sears with two counts each of Human Trafficking in the Second Degree. These charges are separate from the original case.
WHY THIS MATTERS:
Jasmine Calloway Host has been missing from Gadsden, Alabama, since September 15, 2017. To the best of our knowledge, Host and Sears were the last known individuals to see her. In September of 2017, Host and Sears relocated to Kentucky with the children, and there is no indication that Jasmine was with them.
While the newly filed charges are not directly related to Jasmine’s disappearance, they represent continued legal developments involving individuals connected to the timeline of her case.
WHAT’S NEXT:
Trial on the original charges is currently scheduled for April 20, 2026. Arraignment on the new human trafficking charges is scheduled for April 30, 2026. These remain active and pending criminal proceedings, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
If you have had contact with Jasmine Host, Mark Host, or Rachel Sears, your information may be critical. Please contact Gadsden Police Department or Etowah County District Attorney’s Office.
Leave a Reply