", 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. The Chicago Police Department shared the new pieces of video on their YouTube channel this month, along with a plea from Coles mother. "He or she will almost be 2. Kierra Coles was last seen on Oct. 2, 2018. Police said they interviewed the person of interest referenced in the video but got varying accounts of what happened that night. Athena was last known to be wearing a pink butterfly sweater and pink pants, according to a missing person poster. Minyvonne Burkeis a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News. 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. "Additionally, community members are encouraged to search their own property for Athena. Newsweek has reached out to Thayer County Sheriff's Office for comment. Investigators say this appears to be a natural death after learning that the worker had a medical condition. Police interviewed her family, friends, searched her apartment, personal belongings, vehicle and social media pages and still nothing. Jamie Balluch, 43, was last seen on February 2 at his workplace, Bruning Grain and Feed Company. According to the latest available data from the BLS, over 2 million people suffered non-fatal injuries in private industry workplaces in 2021, while there was a total of 5,190 fatal injuries in all sectors in the same year. She said she tries not to overthink the possibilities because the first few months of the disappearance, the stress made her physically sick. We promise you we will not in any way disclose your identity. "Sorting out who's responsible will come next, but we need to find this little girl," Arbeitman said. Dispatchers said they got a call before 10:30 p.m. Monday night about a postal worker who had gone missing. A year ago, Kierra Coles, a young, pregnant U.S. postal worker, disappeared from her Chicago neighborhood. The following day, the man returned to Coles apartment and left her car parked in front, police said. Remains found last week amid the search for a missing 4-year-old girl in Oklahoma have been confirmed to be those of the child, authorities said. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Athena's sister was placed in protective custody with the state after she was found, Arbeitman said. It's been two years since Kierra Coles, a young, pregnant U.S. postal worker, disappeared from her Chicago neighborhood without a trace. They're gone to lunch, they'll call me back, they're out of the office. Athena was determined to be missing after a postal worker . No other details have been released at this time. Trash service in Cyril, a town about 80 miles southwest of Oklahoma City, has been postponed as investigators search for clues about Athenas location. The 26-year-old was about three months pregnant and was eager to meet her first child, according to her mother, Karen Phillips. But we talk about her all the time, we got pictures everywhere. But no, it has increased. Alysia Adams, 31, was arrested on Jan. 12 in Grady County, Oklahoma, on two counts of child neglect, the agency said. A 2-year-old boy has been found safe in Florida after he seemingly wandered away from his Hernando County home. "Less than an hour later, [Coles'] vehicle was seen arriving and parking in another area of the city," Svilar said. When it comes to the investigation, Phillips said she feels "the police just put it [the case] to the side because they're frustrated with it.". When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. "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. "A man who police identified as a person of interest also arrived and entered the residence. Coles, a devoted aunt to her nieces and nephews, was the last of Phillips' children to have a baby. The U.S. But, three months pregnant and excited for her new beginning, the postal worker disappeared from Chicago's south side in 2018. You may be eligible for a reward of up to $25,000.. Reward poster provided by the U.S. The search has covered the town, with the state bureau, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, volunteers and other agencies looking in vacant homes and waterways. 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. But we need to find this little girl," Arbeitman said. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said on Jan. 16 that the search was now considered a "recovery operation" and that its agents and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol were searching areas of Caddo County for the child's remains. 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.". 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. On February 16, Nebraska State Patrol found Balluch's body inside one of the grain bins at the Bruning Grain and Feed Company, 14 days after his disappearance. At about 10:43 p.m. that night, Coles was spotted on surveillance video making ATM withdrawals -- the last known images of her, according to Svilar. "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. COLUSA (CBS13) - The body of a missing postal worker was found in a ditch west of Colusa. Coles' mother said the painful void remains for their family but hopes someone with information will ease their suffering. 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.". Authorities have released few details about the incident. When a reporter asked whether Athena's parents were home at the time she was reported missing, Arbeitman said the focus remains on finding the child. Girl, Caretaker Accused of Killing 4-Year-Old on Christmas, Alligator Pulled from Lake in Brooklyn's Prospect Park Is 'Too Weak to Eat on Its Own', 3 Dead, 5 Injured After Gunman Opens Fire in Multiple Buildings on Michigan State University Campus: Police, Urgent Search Continues in Australia as Tiny Radioactive Capsule Remains Missing, Calif. Police Pause Search for 5-Year-Old Boy Who Was Swept Away in Severe Flood, Bodies Believed to Belong to Rappers Missing Since Canceled Gig Found: 'They Didn't Deserve This', 7 People Killed in Half Moon Bay in California's Second Mass Shooting This Week: 'Our Hearts Are Broken', 'Loving, Friendly' 7-Year-Old Girl Vanishes from Her Texas Home and a Search Is Underway, officers and volunteers looking for Athena. She was about three months pregnant. A 4-year-old girl in Oklahoma was reported missing shortly after a postal worker found her 5-year-old sister wandering alone near their Cyril home, authorities said. Moms of missing Black women gather in Loop to ensure cases are not forgotten: 'Our babies are gone'. I don't know if she's being tortured or if she's safe or what," Phillips told ABC News. "We are not seeing as many missing persons reported in the media, however our caseload has increased dramatically," she said. 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. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation released the booking photo for Ivon Adams. "Kierra, postal worker, who was three months pregnant, exited the business three minutes later. Phillips vowed, "I'm not gonna let up until my daughter is found. Multiple law enforcement agencies have been looking for Athena Brownfield since Tuesday, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) said in a Facebook post. I just wish somebody would have a heart to say, 'I'm gonna give this family some justice. "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.' "We are finding things that we hope might give us clues," she said. "It was just days of searching and passing out flyers and praying," Phillips said. The remains were found in a rural area on Jan. 17. Dispatchers said they got a call before 10:30 p.m. Monday night about a postal worker who had gone missing. TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - A body found in Monroe County on New Year's Eve has been identified as a missing Toledo letter carrier, according to the Monroe . "Right now our top priority is locating her and sorting out who's responsible will come next. There is no evidence at this point to suggest foul play. The person of interest gets out of the passenger side of the car, but no one exited the driver's side. Alysia Adams is related to the sisters, the agency said. DOLTON, Ill. - Police are investigating after the body of a woman was found behind a garage in the south suburb. Rickher says the workers are a tight-knit group and during the overnight shift that clocks in at 1 a.m., there are no more than a half-dozen employees. That's yet to be determined. The youngster was reported missing on 10 January after a postal worker found her five-year-old sister alone outside the family home in Cyril, Oklahoma. "I miss him -- he or she -- even though they wasn't born yet. 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. Postal Inspection Service requesting information leading to the location of postal worker Kierra Coles, who has been missing since Oct 2, 2018. ", Some days Phillips said she "really can't function because my mind just, you know, keeps wondering -- where's my child? Coles vanished without a trace on Oct. 2, 2018. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. With no leads, Natalie Wilson, co-founder of Black and Missing Foundation, Inc., is urging "the community to get involved.". The United States Postal Inspection Service and the FBI are both working with the Chicago police on the case. She went on to ask locals to search their properties and any potential abandoned neighboring properties. Example video title will go here for this video. The FBI, also part of the case, deferred comment to the Chicago Police. PORTSMOUTH, Va. Portsmouth Police are working to learn how a postal worker died after she was found dead on her route. In a video briefing posted to Facebook by KOKH Fox 25 News, OSBI Public Information Officer Brook Arbeitman shared an update on the search. Athena was reported missing earlier Tuesday afternoon. The body of a man who went missing from Bruning, Nebraska, has been discovered in a grain bin at his place of work. "We are seeking any and all information in an attempt to locate her and we won't stop until we do," police said. We just want Kierra brought home safe.. William O'Reilly, 75, has been arrested for her murder. Arbeitman said Thursday night that officials remain optimistic. Authorities did not comment on how the Adams' became the primary caregivers of the children. Coles first wanted a good job, and after years with the post office she had saved for a car and a home. The two girls had been under the care of Adams and her husband, officials said. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) The body of a man who was recently reported missing was found in a canal Saturday afternoon, Port St. Lucie police said. New footage released this month showed Coles withdrawing money from an ATM at a Walgreens store on October 2, 2018, according to CBS News. In its most recent update, OSBi said that "Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) Emergency Response Team (ERT) concluded a grid search with local volunteers. Phillips said the last time she saw the boyfriend was when she filed the missing person report, and after that, he "vanished." Claire Cardona is a breaking news editor for NBC News Digital based in Texas. "I try to stay strong for the other kids, I try to not really break down in front of them. ", 3 Kansas City officers shot while executing search warrant, chief says, Roof collapses at nonprofit South LA clinic, causing $500K in damage, Video shows group of sharks in feeding frenzy off Louisiana coast. Kierra Coles was three months pregnant and reportedly called in sick the day she went missing in 2018. Hampton Roads locals open up about healthcare following Biden's speech, Supreme Court hears arguments for and against student loan forgiveness; Norfolk residents react, Hampton Roads breaks 1975 record for warmest February 23rd. Postal Inspection Service said it's also still investigating Coles' disappearance. Workers in transportation and material moving occupations reported the highest number of fatalities. Multiple law enforcement agencies have been looking for Athena Brownfield since Tuesday, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said in a Facebook post. National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. Police also executed a search warrant at the parents' home, a move that Arbeitman said was "standard procedure" to find any clues of her whereabouts. From 2020: Kierra Coles' family fights to keep case active on missing pregnant postal worker's birthday. Postal Inspection Service distributed thousands of reward flyers," the Postal Inspection Service said. Masako Yamada Kenley was last seen in Midvale at. ", The Chicago police didn't respond to Phillips' claim that they ignored her calls, but in a statement to ABC News the police department said it urges "anybody with knowledge of her last whereabouts to contact the Chicago Police Department.". "If you know something say something this has been going on too long I just hope that anybody out there who knows something have a heart and finally call In," Phillips said. NBC Universal, Inc. Karen Philips, the mother of missing U.S. postal employee Kierra Coles, is unveiling new information that detectives initially told her not to disclose. "Think of a place where a (child) could crawl into and look into those places and if you find anything please notify us.". Minutes later, Kierra was seen on the surveillance video using the ATM. This year, "other competing priorities" -- like the pandemic and the presidential election -- are "definitely hampering the awareness" of missing persons cases, Wilson noted. "Sometimes I just have to completely put it out of my mind because it'll wreck you.". Bruning Grain and Feed Company is located in southeast Nebraska and specializes in processing grains such as soybeans and corn. Is she cold? asked Karen Phillips, who added that her daughter was excited to be a new mom. One of the main forms of evidence in the case was surveillance footage obtained from a neighbour's residence, which appeared to show a woman resembling Kierra walking in the area of 81st Street and Vernon Avenue. 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. It's been two years since Kierra Coles, a young, pregnant U.S. postal worker, disappeared from her Chicago neighborhood without a trace. Coles had a plan for her life and so far "everything was going according to plan," her mother said. CHICAGO (WLS) -- Kierra Coles has been missing since 2018 and Tuesday, Chicago police released video showing some of the pregnant postal worker's final moments before her disappearance. Booking photo of Alysia Adams who was arrested at the Grady County Sheriffs Office on two counts of child neglect. Phillips said she always knew the ATM and car surveillance footage existed, but hadn't seen it until now. CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago police announced Friday that the investigation into the disappearance of a pregnant postal worker has been suspended. When he was questioned, police said he gave varying accounts of the last time he saw her. And not knowing if she's out there, the baby's out there, if they're together -- it's hurting," she said. Investigators said the 26-year-old postal worker was seen walking out of her apartment in her uniform despite calling out of work. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. According to police, Kenley worked with the United States Postal Service for 20 years. On Tuesday, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation shared Facebook post that they and the Cyril Police Department are looking for Athena Brownfield, 4. Calvin Berrys body was found floating in a canal along SE Fallon Drive near Starflower Avenue around 1:30 p.m. Her car was found in front of her apartment with her phone and packed lunch still inside. It described Adams as a caregiver but didnt specify her relationship to Athena. Coles purse, phone, and lunch were still inside her car when police searched it. Chicago police Tuesday released some of the last images of her before she vanished. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455 and say 'Law Enforcement.' Kierra Coles was last seen on Oct. 2, 2018. ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Mom Vanished 6 Weeks Ago, Car Found Abandoned with Phone Inside, She did not confirm reports that Athena is autistic, however, she stated that the child "has limited verbal skills.". The agency . For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. There's still no resolution, leaving her heartbroken mother desperate to know if her daughter is even alive or dead. Kierra and the man later got into her car and drove off with Kierra in the driver's seat.". A neighbor's surveillance video showed Coles in her U.S . These are the last recorded images of Kierra.". Her mind also drifts to thoughts of the grandchild her daughter was carrying. Kierra Coles was last seen on Oct. 2, 2018. Anything they may know, even if they don't think it's important enough -- any small thing could lead to breaking this whole case," she said. NEW video has been released in the mysterious disappearance of a US Postal Service worker who vanished seemingly without a trace. In 2021, a worker died every 101 minutes from a work-related injury, while the share of black and African American workers fatally injured on the job reached an all-time high. Nebraska authorities are investigating the death and an autopsy has been scheduled to determine the cause of death. PORTSMOUTH, Va. Portsmouth Police are working to learn how a postal worker died after she was found dead on her route. We just really want her home.". 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. Arbeitman said she has "limited verbal skills.". Is that in danger? Coles' boyfriend could not be reached by ABC News and the Chicago police declined to comment about him, citing the ongoing investigation. Of those who died in the workplace, workers aged between 45 and 54 accounted for one-fifth of the total number with 1,087 fatalities in 2021. ", RELATED VIDEO: 'Please Bring My Baby Girl Home': Tenn. Each day brings more pain and frustration for Coles' mother, Karen Phillips, who is "begging for anybody to come forward" with information. Chicago police told ABC News that the case remains a "high-risk missing person investigation with potential foul play suspected.". Kierra Coles missing for. "She's living a great life. NEW video has been released in the mysterious disappearance of a US Postal Service worker who vanished seemingly without a trace. "The postal carrier reported the incident to the Cyril Police Department and that was when it was discovered Athena, 4, was missing," continued the OSBI. 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