Kierra Coles: A Cold Case of a Missing Pregnant Postal Worker

Disappearance of Kierra Coles

• 💔 Kierra Coles, a United States Postal Service employee, went missing in October 2018, and her case remains cold five years later.
• ❓ Questions linger about whether Kierra called off work herself on the day she vanished, or if someone with knowledge of postal procedures did so to cover their tracks.
• 💰 A reward of $68,000 is available for information leading to her whereabouts.

Initial Investigation and Persons of Interest

• 🕵️‍♀️ Chicago police released surveillance video showing Kierra running errands with a person of interest, identified by many as her boyfriend, Josh Simmons.
• 🗣️ Kierra's mother, Karen Phillips, expressed suspicions about Josh, noting his lack of contact after her disappearance.
• 🚗 Josh and his other baby mama moved out of state before the end of 2018, shortly after Kierra went missing.

Evolving Timeline and Evidence

• 📍 New surveillance footage released in June 2022 showed Kierra returning home with groceries, followed by a person of interest entering her apartment.
• 🏧 Later that night, Kierra was seen on ATM footage withdrawing $400 cash, an act her mother described as out of character.
• 🚗 Kierra's car was later found abandoned, with a man exiting the passenger side, and subsequent footage showed the same man entering Kierra's apartment and leaving with unidentified items.
• 🩸 The interior of Kierra's car and apartment showed potential drops of blood, though not confirmed by police.
• ⏰ The new timeline indicated Kierra was last seen around 10:45 p.m. on Tuesday, October 2nd, 2018, giving ample time for someone to dispose of her if foul play occurred.

Frustration with Law Enforcement and Media Coverage

• 🚫 In July 2022, CPD announced they were suspending the investigation, citing a lack of leads, which deeply disappointed Kierra's family.
• ⚖️ The family felt the police were frustrated and had put the case aside, especially after the person of interest had moved out of state.
• 📢 Community organizers and Kierra's family highlighted the disparity in media attention between Kierra's case and similar cases involving white women, like Gabby Petito.
• 📞 The US Postal Inspection Service and Chicago Police Department were criticized for allegedly under-prioritizing the case.

Parallels to Other Cases and Hope for Justice

• 🌟 The case of Akiia Eagleston, an eight-month pregnant woman who disappeared in 2017, shares striking similarities, including withdrawing cash from an ATM and the boyfriend being the last person seen with her.
• ⚖️ In the Eagleston case, the boyfriend, Michael Robertson, was eventually found guilty of murder after a circumstantial case was built against him, offering a glimmer of hope for Kierra's family.
• 💰 The reward for information in Kierra's case has increased to $63,000, encouraging anyone with knowledge to come forward.
• 📣 The family continues to advocate for Kierra, emphasizing the importance of shining a light on cold cases involving missing black women and children to pressure law enforcement and potential witnesses.