According to the New York Post on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, 21-year-old Tamia Taylor, who went missing during her 21st birthday celebration aboard a Memphis Riverboats cruise, has taken a tragic turn.
Tamia Taylor’s family and friends are left in anguish as they await answers regarding her fate.
The story began on September 9, when Tamia Taylor embarked on what was supposed to be a joyous celebration for her milestone 21st birthday.
She joined a party boat operated by Memphis Riverboats, filled with revelers looking to mark the occasion in style.
The festive atmosphere was palpable as the boat cruised along the Mississippi River. However, the night took a sudden and sinister turn when Tamia was last seen mingling with fellow partygoers.
Days turned into weeks, and Tamia’s absence remained a troubling mystery. The anguish of her family and friends grew with each passing day, as they tirelessly searched for any sign of her whereabouts.
The Memphis Police and the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Office joined the search efforts, their collective determination fueled by the urgency of the situation.
More than two weeks after Tamia’s disappearance, a grim discovery was made on the Arkansas side of the Mississippi River. The authorities found a body, but they have yet to release further details about the recovered remains.
The crucial answers that Tamia’s loved ones seek are currently shrouded in uncertainty, pending the results of an autopsy report.
The Dock Ellis Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to aiding in the search for missing women of color, has been actively involved in this case.
They have been a source of support and advocacy for Tamia’s family throughout this harrowing ordeal.
The foundation’s spokesperson stated that Tamia’s family is holding onto hope, praying for a negative outcome, desperately wishing for their beloved 21-year-old to be found alive.
“This is very traumatic to Tamia Taylor’s family, they are still standing on faith and ask that the community do the same,” the foundation said in a Facebook post. “Tamia Taylor’s mother is standing in faith and will not give up.”
The nightmare for Tamia’s family began when she failed to return from the Midnight Booze Cruise operated by Memphis Riverboats.
The company, however, has maintained that there is no evidence to suggest Tamia fell overboard during the night’s festivities.
They claim that she was seen on board as the boat pulled into the harbor.
The investigation into Tamia Taylor’s disappearance is ongoing, and authorities are working diligently to uncover the truth surrounding this heartbreaking case.
The community has rallied behind her family, offering support, prayers, and assistance in the search efforts.
Video taken on the boat just past midnight shows Taylor partying on the boat before it returned to its docking station in Memphis.
Taylor’s mother, Debra, said the cruise would have concluded at 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 10.
A few hours later, Debra received a call that Taylor was missing, with the frightened mom calling the police at around 5 a.m., according to the Dock Ellis Foundation.
“Until identification is done, we can’t be sure of anything,” Jasmine Ellis, the foundation’s CEO, told the local outlet. “It’s that awkward silence when everybody is at a standstill, hoping for the best.”
Memphis Police and the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
As the days turn into weeks and the search for answers continues, Tamia Taylor’s loved ones hold onto faith, hoping for a miracle.
The discovery of a body has brought with it a new wave of grief and uncertainty, but until the autopsy results are revealed, the fate of this young woman remains unknown.
In the coming days, the community will gather to remember Tamia Taylor, honor her spirit, and offer comfort to her grieving family.
As the investigation unfolds, one question looms over all: What happened to Tamia Taylor on that fateful night of her 21st birthday cruise?
The answers, when they come, will be pivotal in bringing closure to this heart-wrenching chapter in the lives of those who knew and loved her.
