Whitney Nicole Sanders, 21: Vanished After Visiting Gas Station In 2013
She told a friend she was going across the street to a gas station and never returned.
In August 2013, Whitney Nicole Sanders was robbed and beaten. She reported the incident to the police, but a month passed, and they hadn't arrested any suspects involved with the violent incident.
They obtained phone records and DNA samples, both of which they believed would help them identify the person or persons involved, but those results didn't come back before Whitney went missing.
Our Black Girls is an independent, reader-supported publication. If you believe in amplifying the stories of missing Black women and girls, please consider making a direct gift through PayPal or Buy Me a Coffee, or by subscribing here.
On September 20, 2013, Whitney was still healing from her assault when she went to a restaurant called Kelly’s Place on King’s Road in Jacksonville, Florida, with a friend. It was around 1:30 a.m. when she told her friend that she had to make a quick run to the Exxon gas station across the street. The friend expected her to return in five to 10 minutes.
Whitney never came back.
The Mysterious Early Morning Call
The following morning, the friend checked their phone and saw that they received a missed call from Whitney at 5:00 a.m. That was the last contact that anyone had with the 21-year-old.
Investigators did look into Whitney’s alleged involvement in prostitution and her history of solicitation-related arrests. Still, her friends and family insisted that, no matter what, Whitney would never have disappeared without telling someone.
Further, Whitney’s mother reportedly insisted that those involved with the robbery and assault against her daughter were also responsible for her disappearance.
Whitney Nicole Sanders: What To Know
At the time of her disappearance, Whitney was 5 feet 5 inches tall and 220 pounds. She had black/dark brown hair, brown eyes, and goes by the nicknames “Nicky” or “Buttercup.” She has multiple distinguishable tattoos, including “Buttercup” across her chest, the letters “FSL” on her leg, and the name “Wanda” on her lower back.
Anyone with information regarding Whitney’s disappearance is urged to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at 904-630-0500 or their local authorities.
Please share this story about Whitney Nicole Sanders to continue discussing her missing person case. She is our sister, and her life matters.
Case Number: 13-673840
Agency: Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office
Phone: 904-630-0500
Email:
Join the Our Black Girls conversations on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok. Stay updated on the latest cases, developments, messages from survivors, and much more.