OurBlackGirls | Erika Marie | Substack

Tioni Theus, 16: Teen Found Dead On Side Of Freeway In 2022

Gov. Gavin Newsom has offered a $50,000 reward.

20 hrs ago • Erika Marie

Chantel Brooks, 36: California Woman Missing Since July 2026

Her brother reached out to OBG to continue spreading awareness in an effort to bring Chantel home safely.

Aug 11 • Erika Marie

What Is A Purple Alert?

Some states use Purple Alerts to help find vulnerable adults who do not qualify for AMBER or Silver Alerts.

Aug 11 • Erika Marie

Deidre Reid, 41: Ex Convicted Of Murder, She Remains Missing

She reportedly drove Emanuel Bedford to a Greyhound station but he never got on his bus.

Aug 10

Sacoya Cooper, 33: Trans Woman Left For Trip To The Store & Vanished In 2021

She reportedly never made it to the store. Her partner fears the worst.

Aug 9 • Erika Marie

Most Popular

Bridget Shiel, 19: Killed While Running From Murderer, DNA Yields Suspect

Aug 12, 2025 • Erika Marie

Sherrie Stout, 35: Mother & Daughter Go Missing, Child Turns Up 4 Years Later

Nov 30, 2025 • Erika Marie

Lorraine Snell, 19: Cousin's Husband Arrested For Her Murder 40 Years Later

Jan 28 • Erika Marie

Tynisha Ysais, 21: Killed By Rapper Who Ate Her Flesh

Aug 11, 2025 • Erika Marie

Our Black Girls is an independent, reader-supported publication. Every name, every story on Our Black Girls matters. Subscribe to receive new profiles, case updates, and investigations directly in your inbox. Your attention helps keep these women and girls from being forgotten.

Recent posts

Monisha Harrell, 36: Reported Missing From Alabama In July 2021

Her family reported her missing after not hearing from her in months.

Aug 8 • Erika Marie

Sophia Mason, 8: County Ignored Repeated Abuse Reports Before Her 2022 Death

Seven emergency reports failed to bring Sophia Mason to safety before her death. Now, Alameda County is paying her grandmother $12 million.

Aug 7 • Erika Marie

Keysha Preston, 41: Husband Charged With Murder, She Remains Missing

Keysha told police her husband sexually assaulted a child. She was seen going into a hotel with him but never came out.

Aug 6 • Erika Marie

Jessica Gray, 30: Michigan Woman Disappeared In 2019

Blood was found in the home of Willie Clark Jr., the last person Jessica was with.

Aug 5 • Erika Marie

Tammy Fortson, 28: Took 6 Weeks For Her To Be Reported Missing

In 1997, Tammy disappeared, but it would take almost 2 months before a missing report was filed.

Aug 4 • Erika Marie

Oklahoma

Kassaundra Williams Patterson, 33: Missing From Oklahoma Since 1988

Her young daughters woke up in the morning to find her gone.

Jun 30 • Erika Marie

Kendra Battelo, 24: Vanished Days After BF Had Domestic Violence Court Hearing

She disappeared in 2022, and 2 years later, her boyfriend was allegedly murdered by her loved ones.

Mar 21 • Erika Marie

Althedia Vernon Vaught, 42: Vanished After Receiving A Mysterious Call In 2009

She didn't tell her children where she was going or who she was meeting up with.

Mar 14 • Erika Marie

Pshara Jones, 20: Left Home Upset In 2015 & Vanished

She left on foot, stopped by the market, but was never seen or heard from again.

Dec 15, 2025

OurBlackGirls

OurBlackGirls

Stories of missing, murdered, and mistreated Black women and girls in America. Est. 2018.

The latest from

Erika Marie

Tioni Theus, 16: Teen Found Dead On Side Of Freeway In 2022

Children

Sophia Mason, 8: County Ignored Repeated Abuse Reports Before Her 2022 Death

Seven emergency reports failed to bring Sophia Mason to safety before her death. Now, Alameda County is paying her grandmother $12 million.

Aug 7 • Erika Marie

Skylar Baker, 7: Shot While Sleeping At Home In 2025

The drive-by shooting suspect reportedly remains at large.

Aug 3 • Erika Marie

Gizzell Ford, 8: Tortured To Death By Father & Grandmother In 2013

This little girl's short life was a terrifying experience.

Jul 21 • Erika Marie

Teens

Jennifer Reidy, 15: Vanished From Northern California In 1993

Little is known about the teen's case, but she was last seen in Redding, CA.

Jul 26 • Erika Marie

Scarlett Blanco, 19: Disappeared In 2021 While Traveling In Illinois

She was traveling to the next town over, but police say she never made it to her destination.

Jul 23 • Erika Marie

Cellastine Wade, 18: Missing From New Jersey Since 1968

The 18-year-old was said to have vanished after work.

Jul 9 • Erika Marie

Barbara Peterson, 18: Went Missing From Dallas In 1977

Sadly, very little is known about the teen.

Jul 7 • Erika Marie

Tioni Theus, 16: Teen Found Dead On Side Of Freeway In 2022

Gov. Gavin Newsom has offered a $50,000 reward.

20 hrs ago • Erika Marie

Information

What Is A Purple Alert?

Some states use Purple Alerts to help find vulnerable adults who do not qualify for AMBER or Silver Alerts.

Aug 11 • Erika Marie

What Is A Silver Alert?

For seniors in danger, the Silver Alert can save lives, if it’s used.

Jan 17 • Erika Marie

What Is The Ashanti Alert?

Ashanti Billie’s story created a federal alert system. Most people still haven’t heard of it.

Jan 9 • Erika Marie

Who Gets An AMBER Alert?

Behind the urgency of the national alert system lies a set of selective rules, and not every child's case qualifies.

Dec 22, 2025 • Erika Marie

Jane Doe

1973 Virginia Jane Doe: Remains Located On A Local Farm In Lincoln

A detective within the Sheriff's Office shared this case with OurBlackGirls.

Jul 14 • Erika Marie

Stony Creek Jane Doe: Remains Found In Shallow Grave In 1948

It is believed she was somewhere between 15 and 25-years-old.

Apr 8 • Erika Marie

Orleans Parish Jane Doe: Remains Recovered Under A House In 1998

This strange case continues to plague Louisiana investigators, and it is unfortunate that no one has come forward about this woman in all of these…

Mar 28

Top posts

Bridget Shiel, 19: Killed While Running From Murderer, DNA Yields Suspect

Aug 12, 2025 • Erika Marie

Sherrie Stout, 35: Mother & Daughter Go Missing, Child Turns Up 4 Years Later

Nov 30, 2025 • Erika Marie

Lorraine Snell, 19: Cousin's Husband Arrested For Her Murder 40 Years Later

Jan 28 • Erika Marie

Tynisha Ysais, 21: Killed By Rapper Who Ate Her Flesh

Aug 11, 2025 • Erika Marie

Aesha Amera Muhammad, 23: 2-Year-Old Son Told Police "Mommy's Dead"

Sep 2, 2025 • Erika Marie

1960s

Lillian Williams, 41: Went Missing From Louisiana In 1967 Or 1968

We don't even know her weight or her height, as descriptors weren't included in her missing person report.

Jul 25 • Erika Marie

Cellastine Wade, 18: Missing From New Jersey Since 1968

The 18-year-old was said to have vanished after work.

Jul 9 • Erika Marie

Jane Doe Detroit 1967: Found Murdered In An Alleyway

The young lady was said to possibly be between 18 and 22 years old.

Oct 19, 2025 • Erika Marie

Phyllis Lorain Powell, 5: Last Seen Skipping Down The Street In 1963

She'd spent the morning watching "I Love Lucy" before heading to a friend's house.

Oct 7, 2025 • Erika Marie

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