There is no evidence at this point to suggest foul play. 43-year-old Jamie Balluch was reported as a missing person on Feb. 2. She said she tries not to overthink the possibilities because the first few months of the disappearance, the stress made her physically sick. COLUSA (CBS13) - The body of a missing postal worker was found in a ditch west of Colusa. The boyfriend could not be reached by ABC News for comment. In that last conversation, Coles also told her mother that her boyfriend was planning to come over the night of Oct. 2, Phillips said. Missing. She was about three months pregnant. They're gone to lunch, they'll call me back, they're out of the office. National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. Investigators say this appears to be a natural death after learning that the worker had a medical condition. The Chicago Police Department considers the case "a high-risk missing person investigation with potential foul play suspected.". Postal Inspection Service hotline at (877) 876-2455 and reference case number 2693502. Athena Brownfield was reported missing earlier this month after a postal carrier found her sister wandering alone outside, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. "Just seeing her walking, in person, was heartbreaking," Phillips said Thursday. Her car was found in front of her apartment with her phone and packed lunch still inside. While initial surveillance video released by CPD was not Coles, investigators and Coles' family hope everyone will stop to check out these new images to try and close this cold case. . Kierra Coles missing for nearly 3 years, but family still looking for answers, "At approximately 10:43 p.m., Kierra Coles was seen on surveillance video making two ATM withdrawals at a business in the 8600-block of South Cottage Grove," CPD Homicide Lieutenant William Svilar said. She went on to ask locals to search their properties and any potential abandoned neighboring properties. The department said "each episode focuses on a different case, with the goal of generating tips that could possibly lead to a break in the case, and in turn, an arrest.". "The next day, the person of interest is seen parking Kierra's vehicle near her residence before entering the building and exiting with unknown items," Svilar said. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Is that in danger? Authorities became aware of Athena's disappearance after a postal worker found her 5-year-old sister walking alone on Jan. 10 outside the Adams' home, where they were watching over the two girls. Kierra Coles was about three months pregnant when she vanished on Oct. 2, 2018, on Chicago's South Side. She was about three months pregnant. Postal Inspection Service requesting information leading to the location of postal worker Kierra Coles, who has been missing since Oct 2, 2018. Workers in transportation and material moving occupations reported the highest number of fatalities. A year ago, Kierra Coles, a young, pregnant U.S. postal worker, disappeared from her Chicago neighborhood. Police won't identify their person of interest. Is she hungry? Athena was last known to be wearing a pink butterfly sweater and pink pants, according to a missing person poster. The person of interest gets out of the passenger side of the car, but no one exited the driver's side. "That's all I'm really praying for.". Postal Inspection Service requesting information leading to the location of postal worker Kierra Coles, who has been missing since Oct 2, 2018. ", RELATED VIDEO: 'Please Bring My Baby Girl Home': Tenn. Moms of missing Black women gather in Loop to ensure cases are not forgotten: 'Our babies are gone'. Please do not self deploy to search anything other than your own property," the bureau added. PORTSMOUTH, Va. Portsmouth Police are working to learn how a postal worker died after she was found dead on her route. She was about three months pregnant. There's still no resolution, leaving her heartbroken mother desperate to know if her daughter is even alive or dead. P ostal worker, Kierra Coles, 26, has been missing since October 2.She mysteriously disappeared near her South Side Chicago neighborhood. "It's already frustrating that it's gonna be two years, and for y'all [the Chicago Police Department] to say y'all don't have enough to go on, it's really disappointing," she said. ", Wilson added, "If you don't feel comfortable reporting it to law enforcement, please come to our website and report the tip anonymously. Alysia Adams, 31, was arrested Thursday afternoon at the Grady County Sheriffs Office on two counts of child neglect, the state bureau said. Coles was a letter carrier. Minutes later, Kierra was seen on the surveillance video using the ATM. "We are not seeing as many missing persons reported in the media, however our caseload has increased dramatically," she said. The Milwaukee Police Department responded to a call just before 6 p.m., where they found the 44-year-old worker. National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. I just miss him because she would've been a great mother," she said. On Tuesday, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation shared Facebook post that they and the Cyril Police Department are looking for Athena Brownfield, 4. Fatalities due to violence or injury by persons or animals increased to 761 in the year, while exposure to harmful substances or environments led to 798 workplace fatalitiesthe highest figure since 2011. By Alice Gibbs On 2/17/23 at 4:54 AM EST. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Her mind also drifts to thoughts of the grandchild her daughter was carrying. A 2-year-old boy has been found safe in Florida after he seemingly wandered away from his Hernando County home. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol issued a missing and endangered person alert for Athena on Jan. 11 to people in a 15-mile radius of Cyril, located about 70 miles southwest of Oklahoma City. National Missing and Unidentified Persons System Kierra Coles was about three months pregnant when she vanished on Oct. 2, 2018, on Chicago's South Side. The U.S. Multiple law enforcement agencies have been looking for Athena Brownfield, of Cyril, since Tuesday. "We just want Kierra brought home safe," Karen Phillips, Kierra's mother, said. Caretaker Faces Murder Charge While Police Search for Missing Oklahoma Girl's Remains in 'Recovery Operation', Caretaker of Missing Oklahoma Girl, 4, Arrested as Search Continues for Child, Authorities Identify Remains as Missing Athena Brownfield 2 Weeks After Sister Was Found Wandering Alone, Second Caretaker of Missing Oklahoma Girl, 4, Faces Murder Charge, Remains Found amid Search for Missing Okla. On Tuesday, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. "I went from seeing my child every day -- if not seeing her, at least talking to her every day -- to not seeing her in three years," Phillips said. Just a few hours later, around 1 a.m. Tuesday morning, the worker was found dead in Portsmouth. Kierra Coles is a U.S. postal worker who was 26 years old and about three months pregnant when she went missing on Chicago's South side on October 2, 2018. The postal worker notified the. The two sisters had reportedly been in the couple's care for at least a year, before the 5-year-old was found alone outside their home in Cyril, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Coles' boyfriend could not be reached by ABC News and the Chicago police declined to comment about him, citing the ongoing investigation. "You would think with the pandemic, people are home. A video produced by police and published by the department on Tuesday sheds new light on the mystery. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Authorities believe this is her last known sighting. Kierra Coles was last seen on Oct. 2, 2018. "Less than an hour later, [Coles'] vehicle was seen arriving and parking in another area of the city," Svilar said. A postal worker spotted Athenas 5-year-old sister by herself near Adams house in the town of Cyril about 2 p.m. Tuesday and called police, the state bureau said. Asked about the girls' parents, she said that the investigation is "active and outgoing.". Law enforcement continues conducting interviews and reviewing surveillance videos in an effort to locate Athena. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. No foul play is suspected and a Portsmouth police spokesperson said this appears to be a natural death. We promise you we will not in any way disclose your identity. The County Sheriff's Office requested the assistance of the Nebraska State Patrol on February 15. "They don't even reach out and say, 'Well, Ms. Phillips, we're still going through this' or, 'We don't have any new leads.' Athena's sister was placed in protective custody with the state after she was found, Arbeitman said. All Rights Reserved. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. It's been two years since Kierra Coles, a young, pregnant U.S. postal worker, disappeared from her Chicago neighborhood without a trace. The two girls had been under the care of Adams and her husband, officials said. ", "Somebody knows something other than the person that did whatever happened," she said. She . Since then there have been desperate pleas for help, but the case remains unsolved, with . Police said they interviewed the person of interest referenced in the video but got varying accounts of what happened that night. Multiple law enforcement agencies have been looking for Athena Brownfield since Tuesday, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said in a Facebook post. A man discovered the body around 10:30 a.m. Friday behind a garage near 146th. Yeah. Kierra Coles was three months pregnant and reportedly called in sick the day she went missing in 2018. A postal worker has vanished, and the vehicle she was using to deliver mail in a rural area was found burned, reports say. Published: Jan. 3, 2022 at 3:49 PM PST. Bruning Grain and Feed Company is located in southeast Nebraska and specializes in processing grains such as soybeans and corn. unsolved disappearance of postal worker Kierra Coles, Chicago artist brings attention to missing women of color in 'Still Searching' series, Kierra Coles' family fights to keep case active on missing pregnant postal worker's birthday. "Think of a place where a (child) could crawl into and look into those places and if you find anything please notify us.". "Kierra Coles is a member of our Postal family and we will continue looking for her and following up on all leads," the agency continued. "I try to stay strong for the other kids, I try to not really break down in front of them. 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"The person of interest exits the passenger side of the vehicle, but nobody exits the driver's side.". We receive calls from family members many times during the day asking for assistance finding their missing loved ones. This number brought the number of fatal work injuries up to 3.6 fatalities per 100,000 full-time workers, an 8.9 percent increase on 2020 and the highest annual rate since 2016. "I need to get there and fight this," he told the court. Remains found in rural Grady County, outside of Rush Springs, on Jan. 17 have been positively identified as those of Athena, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said on Thursday. Her case remains a "high-risk missing person investigation with potential foul play suspected," Chicago police told ABC News on Thursday. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Kierra Coles was last seen on Oct. 2, 2018. By Minyvonne Burke and Claire Cardona. Men were more likely to be fatally injured in the workplace, with women only making up 8.6 percent of workplace fatalities. "Suspended means the case cannot be continued further at this time," Bown told ABC News. CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago police announced Friday that the investigation into the disappearance of a pregnant postal worker has been suspended. While the cause of death in this case has not been determined, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) records instances of injuries, illness and fatality in the workplace across the U.S. Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. The search has covered the town, with the state bureau, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, volunteers and other agencies looking in vacant homes and waterways. It's always something," she told ABC News last week. The next day, on Oct. 3, "The person of interest is seen parking Kierra's vehicle near her residence before entering the building and exiting with unknown items," Svilar said. Chicago police Tuesday released some of the last images of her before she vanished. "There are many possibilities such as having exhausted all the available evidence. I don't know if she's being tortured or if she's safe or what," Phillips told ABC News. Phillips vowed, "I'm not gonna let up until my daughter is found. CHICAGO ( NewsNation Now) Two weeks ago, Kierra Coles would have turned 29. Phillips said she always knew the ATM and car surveillance footage existed, but hadn't seen it until now. That's yet to be determined. Authorities in Oklahoma are searching for a little girl after a postal worker found her 5-year-old sister alone and wandering around. The remains were found in a rural area on Jan. 17. "That's a big thing that I struggle with every day. Her car was found in front of her apartment with her phone and packed lunch still inside. Newsweek has reached out to Thayer County Sheriff's Office for comment. If you have information that will help us locate Kierra Coles, please contact the U.S. PORTSMOUTH, Va. Portsmouth Police are working to learn how a postal worker died after she was found dead on her route. So, when Rogers disappeared on the job, they . ", The United States Postal Inspection Service, which is involved in the investigation because Coles was a postal worker, said in a statement, "Chicago Division Postal Inspectors continue to investigate the whereabouts of USPS employee Kierra Coles. There's still no sign of her, with the mysterious case classified by Chicago police as "a high-risk missing person investigation with potential foul play suspected." National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. Her parents have not given up hope, but all this time handing out flyers and keeping the search . '", "Any small lead can lead to what really happened," Phillips said. It's been two years since Kierra Coles, a young, pregnant U.S. postal worker, disappeared from her Chicago neighborhood without a trace. Then, she and her boyfriend decided they were ready for a baby, Phillips said. "A man who police identified as a person of interest also arrived and entered the residence. "What's most important is Kierra Coles case and every cold case gets the attention it deserves in Black and Brown communities," Tanisha Williams, Kenwood Oakland Community Organization, said. "The person of interest exits the passenger side of the vehicle, but nobody exits the driver's side.". Nebraska authorities are investigating the death and an autopsy has been scheduled to determine the cause of death. When contacted by PEOPLE, Arbeitman did not give any additional information on the search for Athena. "I could never reach nobody. Phillips said police have not provided any information whenever she's called over the last year. After searching through hours of video, police put together a timeline of her disappearance. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. But we hold onto hope," Wilson told ABC News. Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation A couple who were the caretakers of a 4-year-old girl who went missing in Oklahoma have been arrested and are expected to face charges that include child. Just a few hours later, around 1 a.m. Tuesday morning, the worker was found dead in . Coles, a devoted aunt to her nieces and nephews, was the last of Phillips' children to have a baby. "If it were your family member you would want someone to come forward with information. These are the last recorded images of Kierra.". Chicago police told ABC News, "At this point, anybody with knowledge of her last whereabouts is asked to contact the Chicago Police Department as we are seeking any and all information in an attempt to locate her and we won't stop until we do.". Chicago police told ABC News that the case remains a "high-risk missing person investigation with potential foul play suspected.". Copyright 2023 ABC News Internet Ventures. Coles vanished without a trace on Oct. 2, 2018. Someone out there has seen something - they know something, Lt Senora Ben said in 2019. "It was just days of searching and passing out flyers and praying," Phillips said. Detectives said the video was captured after Coles was seen in surveillance video driving away from her house with a man, who police say is a person of interest. DOLTON, Ill. - Police are investigating after the body of a woman was found behind a garage in the south suburb. The 26-year-old woman was three months pregnant . "We are finding things that we hope might give us clues," she said. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Amid the search, Brook Arbeitman, a spokesperson for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, said that authorities were finding items in town that "could be relevant" and helpful to the case, though did not elaborate. In a video briefing posted to Facebook by KOKH Fox 25 News, OSBI Public Information Officer Brook Arbeitman shared an update on the search. No foul play is suspected. Reward poster provided by the U.S. A caregiver of a missing 4-year-old Oklahoma girl has been arrested, two days after a postal worker found the child's older sister wandering alone near their home, authorities said. Authorities in Oklahoma are searching for a little girl after a postal worker found her 5-year-old sister alone and wandering around. "At that time, we realized that there was another child missing," Arbeitman said at a news conference. Oklahoma authorities have recovered a child's remains in rural Grady County during the search for missing 4-year-old Athena Brownfield. You may be eligible for a reward of up to $25,000.. As for whether Athena could be in danger, Arbeitman said "there's not anything to indicate that other than she's a little child and she's missing. Authorities did not comment on how the Adams' became the primary caregivers of the children. Postal Inspection Service said it's also still investigating Coles' disappearance. In a follow-up post shared Wednesday morning, the OSBI shared more details, adding that "a postal carrier reported finding Athena Brownfield's five-year-old sister near her home.". Police said less than an hour later, that same vehicle was seen parking in another area of the city. The search became a "recovery operation," the agency said on Jan. 16, several days after one of her caregivers was arrested on a murder charge in connection with the child's disappearance. 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