Kierra Coles case: Chicago postal worker missing for 3 years, Friday is her birthday
CHICAGO - Chicago postal worker Kierra Coles has been missing for three years. Friday marked her 29th birthday.
Police say Coles was last seen October 28, 2018 on surveillance video leaving her South Side home at 81st and Vernon in the East Chatham neighborhood. She was three months pregnant at the time.
However, the family believes the person in the surveillance video was a neighbor, not Kierra.
"I know it’s not her, you know your child, you just know as a parent," said Kierra’s mother Karen Phillips.
Coles mother strongly believes her daughter’s boyfriend is linked to her disappearance. They dated for six years, and was pregnant with their child.
Police have not named him as a suspect.
"Everything goes through your mind. What if it's this? What if it's that? What if this has happened? What if that happened? We just don't know," said Coles' mom, Karen Phillips. "To feel like your child could be harmed every day... that is torture to yourself."
On Friday, family and friends gathered to share special memories of Coles.
Also in attendance was Lashann Walker, whose daughter Diamond Bynum and grandson King Walker vanished from Gary, Indiana in 2015.
"To whoever is listening, we just ask if you know something, please please please say something," said Walker.
Chicago police have been working with the U.S. Postal Inspection service to bring Coles home.
Coles’ face adorns the walls of her mother's Englewood home.
"Until the detectives or police tell me to come identify a body, to me she's alive," said Phillips.
The same day Coles was last seen leaving her home, a sick call was placed into the post office where she worked, though her car was later found near her apartment with her purse, her cell phone and a lunch for the day still inside.
Police suspect foul play in her disappearance.
A reward of $45,000 is being offered in her case for any information.