Shelia Diane Hughes, 29: Was 9 Months Pregnant When She Disappeared In 2000
She was declared legally dead in 2008. The person if interest passed away in 2013.
It was supposed to be an exciting time for Shelia Diane Hughes as she counted down the days to her due date. The 29-year-old was nine months pregnant by the time September 2, 2000, rolled around, but the date would become an ominous one for Shelia's friends and family.
Shelia was with the father of her unborn son, Renard Simmons, the last time anyone saw her. According to The Charley Project, the couple—who had been together for five years—left Shelia's home in Aliceville, Alabama, around 10:30 p.m.
It's unclear where they were going, but they reportedly were next seen at a roadblock in Pickensville, Alabama, at approximately 1:00 a.m. on September 2. Police were at the roadblock and stated that when they spoke with Renard Simmons, Shelia Diane Hughes was still with him.
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However, since that time, no one has been able to contact the missing woman. According to Simmons, he dropped Shelia off at her home sometime around 3:00 a.m. on September 2.
“I was at home that weekend and he did not drop her off,” Debra Hughes, Sheila’s sister, told The Tuscaloosa News in 2016. “That's what he said, but I was off that weekend, so he did not drop her off.”
Shelia’s family reportedly said Simmons wasn’t as thrilled about his girlfriend’s pregnancy. While Shelia was delighted, he wanted her to have an abortion. TCP further states that on the evening before she disappeared, Shelia told her older sister, “If you don’t see me anymore, don’t worry about me, know that I’ve lived my life to the fullest.”
It’s undisclosed how much time had passed before some of Shelia’s belongings were located in a cotton field in Noxubee County, Mississippi. It was there that, under a tree, Shelia’s purse and slippers were found. Unlike many other families that hold out hope, it’s said that Shelia’s loved ones have reconciled within themselves that she is no longer alive.
Renard Simmons passed away in 2013. Shelia was declared legally dead in 2008.
“She was saying that when she had the baby, she would stay with me for a few weeks and then find a place,” Debra said. “She was going to name him Junior.”
“She was the one that kept the family together. We haven't had a family barbecue since she was missing because she was the one that used to get it together… I often think about what she would be doing now,” Hughes said. “I think about what her child would be like and how he would come to visit.”
Pickens County District Attorney Chris McCool added, “The evidence was never clear enough to charge anyone, and until the evidence shows what happened and who did it, even if that person is deceased, it won't be closed.”
"Finding out what happened is justice," he said. "I'm not satisfied until we know what happened."
Shelia Diane Hughes: What To Know
At the time of her disappearance, Shelia Diane Hughes was 5 feet 5 inches tall and 140 to 150 pounds. She had brown hair, brown eyes, and both of her ears were pierced. Shelia had a scar on her left arm and her lower lip. She was last seen wearing white maternity shorts, white shoes, and a gray shirt with a brown purse. Her nickname is “Boot.” It’s reported that her dental records, fingerprints, and DNA are not available.
Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office at (205) 367-2000, the Aliceville Police Department at 205-373-6631, the Alabama Department of Public Safety at 800-228-7688, or their local authorities. The agency case number is 00-0902468.
Please share this story about Shelia Diane Hughes to reignite the investigation into her case. She is our sister, and her life matters.
Case Number: 00-0902468
Agency: Pickens County Sheriff’s Office
Phone: (205) 367-2000
Email:
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