Due to her being raised out of state, I have, Posted by Jule Gallion on Wednesday, December 9, 2015. 4 talking about this. He seemed happy, excited, Sullivan said. They had grown up pretty inseparable and the girls were heartbroken when Ambers family moved to Arizona. It was reported that James stopped cooperating with the investigators after a point. Weight. This was the last time Lisa saw her daughter. It is so sad that a person who was just about to start their life and do things that they migth have dreamt of their whole life. Yes, theyre unusual due to her disappearance. "It's scary," Akens' mother, Lisa Sullivan, told WRIC News. Katelin's luggage was reportedly found in a drainage ditch two days after she went missing. Keith Epps. He said that he dropped her outside the JCPenneystore but there was no CCTV in the area so at that time, they could not determine if she was at the mall at all that day. When Lisa tried calling Katelin, it went straight to voicemail, and two days later, her belongings were located. She says that James owns a second home and piece of land which his mother lives in, and Detective Marshall has been unable to obtain a search warrant because James doesnt reside there and its legally considered a rental property with a tenant. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. On February 7, 1977, Tammy Lynn Akers and her friend, Angela Mae Rader were dropped off at William Ruffner Junior High school in Roanoke, Virginia by one of the girls' relatives. Katelin flew into Virginia to visit her family in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, for the birth of her nephew. Katelin's phone was missing so police looked at the location records anddiscovered that when she sent Lisa the text message saying that she was at the airport, her phone pinged at a location more than 30 miles from that Springfield Metro stop. I mean only respect to Katelins loved ones. The authorities have not charged anyone with Katelins disappearance, and without a body or any other evidence, it became difficult to prove a crime occurred. Katelin Akens was supposed to board a flight to get back home, but she never even made it to the airport. Given that James was the last person to see Katelin alive, he became the investigators next stop. Regardless, they continue their search to this day, making every effort to spread awareness and find her. "It sounds as if there may be yet another serial killer in Spotsylvania County," one local posted on Facebook Tuesday. Missing in Massachusetts: The Case of Neo Maximus AKA Charlie Allen Jr. Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office investigators say surveillance cameras corroborate Katelin Akens' stepfather's account of events surrounding the disappearance of the teen.Akens vanished after her . Adding to the mystery was the location of the suitcase- Though it was more than 50 miles away from the airport, it was located within a few miles of Katelins hometown. For reasons unclear, Akens never boarded her flight from Virginia to Arizona, where she was to attend cosmetology school. The Free Lance-Star reported Ciccone died as a result of a gunshot wound to the head. Markham was a 21-year-old art student who lived in Fairfield, Ohio, and also worked two jobs in addition to her studies. They were also able to determine that while all of Katelins loved ones were frantically calling her trying to find her on the day that she went missing, James never reached out to her again. Investigators say they havent talked with Branton in years. Inside the suitcase was Katelins wallet, her cash, her debit cards, and her plane ticket. Maybe hes keeping secrets for her. Race White. She wears eyeglasses with dark frames. The results validated all of Lisas fears because her phone was found to have been pinging all day off towers more than 50 miles from the airport, but less than 5 miles from where her suitcase had been located. Spotsylvania County detectives have determined that . In fact, he didnt go back to work anywhere at all for more than 6 months after Katelins disappearance. As far as Lisa was aware, Katelin was getting the metro to the airport to get that 5.40pm flight home. According to the police, the case remains open, and any leads that come through would be investigated thoroughly. So, if youre curious about an update in the case, weve got you covered. Please note, I do not post these theories to negatively affect anyone or anything. On Sunday, 21-year-old Heather Ciccone was found dead in a car parked in a strangers driveway. Subscribe to our email newsletter for news on the FBI, sent out every week. Police have reportedly searched Brantons home and seized a variety of evidence, including guns, electronics and his DNA; but have not found any meaningful leads or apparently, cause to arrest him. The hope was that he would change his mind about not cooperating with the police. Even though authorities have declared no known connections between Katelins and Heathers cases, residents do have reason to be uneasy. Image Credit: Help find Katelin Akens/Facebook. SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. -- Police in central Virginia say a missing teen's luggage was found ditched along a road days after she went missing on her way to the airport. Missing From SPRINGFIE https://t.co/HLX4NWjFc0, Amber UNOFFICIAL (@AmberAlertTWEET) December 9, 2015. Officials tell PEOPLE there's no connection between the cases. Eventually this theory was ruled out entirely, and two men have since been convicted of first degree murder in Heathers death. Police believed that she never left theFredericksburg area. What happened to this missing woman, and are authorities close to finding her? Two days after Katelindisappeared, and just one day after Heather's body was found, Katelin'sluggage was found in a drainage ditch in Spotsylvania County near the Fredericksburg city limit. However, authorities have confirmed that Katelin Akens stepfather is not a person of interest or a suspect in her disappearance. Investigation Discoverys Disappeared: Flight Risk focuses on the young womans activities and whereabouts leading to her disappearance. ", by Chilling Crimes Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? There was a brief window where the rumor mill in Spotsylvania county worried there might be a serial killer among them, because right around the same time period the body of a young blonde woman was found locally. Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian female. According to my sources, Amber didnt feel there were any signs of trouble in the relationship at all before Katelin left for Virgina, so she felt pretty blindsided by the texts. According to the report, investigators would learn days later that Akens never got to the mall, despite the claim by Branton. He advised he would have to drop her off early though as he had to be in work at 3pm that day. His Adoptive Mother, Who Pleaded for His Safe Return, Was Just Charged, Calif. Police Captain Found Dead Days After Man Was Arrested in Connection with Husband's Death, Virginia Mom Charged with Murder After 4-Year-Old Eats 'Large Amount' of THC Gummies. Episode Summary. The fact she left cash in her luggage tells me nothing at all. Katelins biological father moved out of state when she was just a toddler, and when Katelin was 7 years old, Lisa remarried to a man named James Branton. They called and called Katelin with no response at all. As police began to investigate the hours leading up to her disappearance, they interviewed the friends she had stayed with the night before who confessed that they did actually all sleep together- the night had gotten carried away, and they all agreed it was something that shouldnt happen again. Lisa left shortly afterwards. Lisa doesnt seem to be granting James quite as much grace these days, and she says he still will not speak to her or to any of the investigators. They believed that an app on her phone that has encrypted messages may hold some answers as to what happened to her. She was the reason why I was able to put up a Pack n Play because I had no idea what I was doing. Interviewer: So, Katelin, how long has it been since you last saw her? Lisas final text from Katelin read. In March 2021, a foundation for missing people placed a billboard regarding Katelins case on the route James took to work. [1] Akens' former stepfather allegedly drove Akens to Reagan Washington National Airport to catch a flight back to her . If it wasnt the stepdad, he would have given police the password to his phone, taken a polygraph and done everything possible to show he was innocent. Also did they ever use thermal cameras over surrounding wooded areas or watery areas. A Saturday. Image Credit: Help find Katelin Akens/Facebook. I dont know what his motive couldve been other than a possible vendetta against Lisa, rage, or random killing. Due to the condition of the luggage, the wheel was broken and the bag was scuffed, police believed that it may have been thrown out of a moving car. This behavior was all completely out of character for Katelin and Lisa simply didnt understand what to make of it. While theres a lot of evidence in this case to make it seem like that might be what happened, theres not enough to verify it. Scars and Marks. Katelin's phone was missing so police looked at the location records anddiscovered that when she sent Lisa the text message saying that she was at the airport, her phone pinged at a location more than 30 miles from that Springfield Metro stop. And that person was her stepfather James. I think police should subpoena James phone or something in regards to him. Scan this QR code to download the app now. and our None of his testimony is corroborated. wallet, ID and glasses were found inside, but her clothes were missing. When a person goes missing, there's a special kind of pain in the not knowing. In December of 2015, Katelin Akens was to board a plane from Virginia to Arizona. She asks how the traffic was and thats when James tells her something that surprises her: I dropped her at the Springfield metro station. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Katelins phone never pinged far from James house. said by the sheriffs office to have been. Akens has a tattoo of five butterflies on her arm and a tattoo of three stars on her right foot. Akens mother, Lisa Sullivan, spoke to the news outlet about her daughters mysterious disappearance. CBS News Poll: How GOP primary race could be Trump v. Trump fatigue, Debt ceiling: Biden calls congressional leaders to meet, Illinois highway pile-up causes multiple deaths, police say, Fish contaminated with "forever chemicals" found in nearly every state, Transgender Montana lawmaker Zooey Zephyr sues over censure, Debt ceiling standoff heats up over veterans' programs, U.S. tracking high-altitude balloon first spotted off Hawaii, Third convoy of American evacuees from Sudan reaches safety, The weirdest items passengers leave behind in Ubers, Arkansas woman indicted for selling stolen body parts to Pennsylvania man, Woman who left newborn to die next to Mississippi River learns fate, Florida serial killer pleads guilty to 4 murders, Operator in limo crash that killed 20 goes on trial in Schoharie, NY, $3 million fentanyl shipment to Maine restaurant prompts arrest. She wanted ultrasound pictures. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The unsolved disappearance of a Virginia teenager four years ago has left family members desperate for answers and investigators puzzled as a key witness who may be able to help refuses to cooperate, WTTG-TV reports. Lisa then left the house to go to work. Lisa and James were married when Katelin was young. His phone was nowhere near the airport or the mall. Lisa also hopes it will pull on James heartstrings to come forward and share what he knows. I also think she was just venting to the friend about how he stated she doesnt want to be in Virginia or Arizona. At this point, she is not a person of interest., But there are plenty of clues. By Sarah Robinson. After Lisa and James separated,it took a while for things to settle between them allbut they did and everything seemed fine. The 19-year-old moved to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, just days after her 18th birthday in 2014, to live with her fiance. Authorities in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, are searching for answers after one young woman was found dead and another went missing last weekend. However, authorities have confirmed that Katelin Akens' stepfather is not a person of interest or a suspect in her disappearance. She was due to start the new cosmetology course on the Monday, the 7th of December. Two days after she disappeared, a carry-on suitcase is discovered in the woods off a rural road 44 miles away. Katelin Michelle Akens, 19, was last seen on Saturday after her stepfather dropped her off near a commuter rail station on her way to the airport. And that person was her stepfather James. An investigation would later show that the text message wasnt sent from the airport, but instead hit towers near Interstate 95 in Stafford County, Virginia. Within days of Akens missing her flight, road crews reportedly came upon her luggage in a ditch several miles from Brantons residence. Copyright 2023 The Inquisitr. Katelin told another friend that those two forced themselves on her and said that all three of them had sex. By Joey Fox, May 01 2023 5:28 pm. In fact, Katelin was so bright and hard working that she doubled up on her coursework and was able to graduate highschool at just 16 years old. If you have any information about the disappearance of Kaitlin Akens, please call Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office 540-582-7115. I think all texts were made by him from Katelins phone. But her family don't believe that as they saw her the morning of the 5th of December and she was fine. So what happened when James dropped her off at the mall? Why would he want to harm Katelin in any way? Her first course was scheduled to begin December 7th, 2015, and Katelin needed one final piece of paperwork to make her acceptance official- her high school diploma, which happened to be at her moms house all the way back in Virginia. I dont know. In 2021, Lisa added that finding Katelins body would provide her with some closure. About two days later, Katelins suitcase with her money, credit cards, and the plane ticket was found in a drainage ditch in Spotsylvania County. Springfield, Virginia 19 years old Dec. 5th 2015. Without his cooperation Detective Marshall was forced to execute a search warrant on James house being that it was Katelins last known location. Just one day after Katelin disappeared, the body of a young woman was found. Furthermore, Jameshad told Lisa he was due atwork at 3pm on the 5th of December and that was why he would have to drop Katelin off earlybut James never went into work that day and did not return to that job at all. We dont have an easy suspect to go to, Pearce says. Fraught with worry, Lisa knew something was very wrong with her daughter and began calling every contact she could think of. On December 5, 2015, Katelin Akens was supposed to board a flight from Reagan National Airport in Virginia to Lisa didnt think Katelin sent those texts. Her flight was scheduled for 5:00pm. Interviewer: When you told Katelin that you were pregnant, tell us about that. 11:56am- Amber gets a text from Katelins phone. Hed unknowingly discovered the biggest clue- Katelins suitcase, scratched and missing a wheel, as if it had been thrown from a moving vehicle. As of Tuesday, there is no indication Ciccone's death is connected to Akens' disappearance. December 5 will be six years. Immediately this gets Lisas intuition going and she knows something is wrong. Kaitlin would be 25 years old today. None of that happened, crushing her family and confounding investigators. The contents of luggage gave us some leads that were following actively as we speak, he says, adding that it didnt show any signs of being tampered with. Detectives have yet to name a suspect or person of interest. Akens has a tattoo of five butterflies . Growing up, Kaitlin was described as nurturing, adoring little kids and loving to help others in any way she could. Amber had said a Facebook message was sent from Katelins account saying she cant come back because she cheated on her. Ciccones death is more perplexing. She has gauge earrings in her . So just to confirm the story of a concerned father, Detective Marshall pulled security cam footage from inside the mall and the mall parking lot, the metro station, and the airport. Pearce said no other items were found with the suitcase. Information recovered from her social media accounts and her cellphone records shows that [that may be case]., He adds: But until we can locate her, this is a missing persons case. Katelins sister Gabi seems to think there is a strong possibility that James helped her meet up with someone shed been talking to online and that person turned out to be someone evil who hurt her. His property was around 10 acres in a rural area near Fredericksburg. "Of course it's suspicious - the young lady was supposed to be on a plane back home to Arizona and we found her luggage in a drainage ditch in the middle of Spotsylvania County, nearly 50 miles from the airport," Pearce told Crimesider. According to Lisa- The mall is not one that Katelin was familiar with, and neither was the metro. KATELIN AKENS - MISSING (My theory) Springfield, Virginia 19 years old Dec. 5th 2015. Lisa told police that it would have been unusual for Katelin to askto be dropped off at the mall as it was not a mall shewent to and the last time Katelin was on a metro was when she was six or seven years old. It says, Something came up. Some sources indicate that the discovery of the body was thought to perhaps BE the body of Katelin Akens, but in an interview by Ashley Flowers for Crime Junkie, Katelins mom Lisa clears up that rumor saying that Heather was found first- She actually knew her, they worked at the same company. They had a threesome and she felt guilty that she had cheated on Amber. A search warrant has been unsealed in the investigation into Katelyn Markham's death in 2011 and the recent arrest of her then fianc, John Carter. And I was like, yeah, no, I really am. They never thought she was Katelin, but the fear was that they may have met the same fate. Boy, 10, Vanished in 2016. Katelin did not act out of ordinary that day. This young lady, Katelin Akens is a cousin of mine. I want to tell the stories of those never came home and went to tell you the story of Katelyn Akins. Lisa dropped Katelin off at James' house at 9.20am that morning. On the day 19-year-old went missing, Sullivan drove to her ex-husbands home so that he could bring Aken to the airport for her flight back to Arizona, where she lived. Share on Facebook Facebook She then proceeds to send another text that her battery is going to die. Family told CBS affiliate WTVR that she texted them to let them know she had made it to the airport, but she never boarded the flight and they haven't heard from her since. Her death has officially been ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiner. by Chilling Crimes Katelin Akens is 5 feet 4 inches tall and 122 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes. The deputy gave her a hug. The first thing to rule out in a missing persons investigation is the idea that theyre missing of their own free will. Pearce said the case is not connected to the murder of a young woman, Heather Ciccone, who was found shot dead in a car in Spotsylvania Sunday. I'm Kona, Gallagher, and I made them flick. He was reportedly cooperative, but there wasn't enough evidence to connect him to any wrongdoing in Latoya's missing person case. Battery dying so won't be able to text for a bit.". Were hoping and this has happened before that she simply decided that she wasnt going to go back [to Arizona] and made other arrangements, Pearce says. Date of Birth 09/02/1996 (26) Age 19 years old. Other have said that she was receiving death threats. Katelin Michelle Akens was born September 2nd, 1996, and was raised in Virginia with her sister Gabriella and her mom Lisa Sullivan. Share on Twitter Twitter The sites/interviews with Lisa I have not seen this.). Though her family doesnt think shed hide from them to avoid a breakup, the police arrange an intense stakeout just to be sure shes not hiding with any of her friends. They also interviewed those closest to her. She was going to take the metro to the airport since there is a stop at Reagan.. Her luggage was found five miles from where Heather's body was found. At this point, Lisa was completely reeling- what is going on? Mother of Katelin Akens Marks Six Years Since Daughter's Disappearance, FBI Richmond - National Crime Victims' Rights Week, Seeking Information-Suspect Wanted in Connection with Armed Robberies, FBI San Francisco: Video Depicting Kidnapping of Monica de Leon Barba (Video 2), FBI San Francisco: Video Depicting Kidnapping of Monica de Leon Barba (Video 1), FBI Jacksonville Diversity Agent Recruitment Event Trailer: Special Agent Alex Silverstein, FBI Jacksonville Diversity Agent Recruitment Event Trailer: Special Agent Justin Brannon, FBI Jacksonville Diversity Agent Recruitment Event Trailer: Special Agent Lauren Regucci, FBI Jacksonville Diversity Agent Recruitment Event Trailer: Special Agent in Charge Sherri Onks, Inside The FBI Podcast: For The Love Of Money, Inside the FBI Podcast: Romance Scams (2021 Rerelease), Inside the FBI Podcast: Submitting Tips to the Bureau, FBI Seattle Discusses Myths of Human Trafficking, FBI Announces $10,000 Reward for Information Leading to Arrest in Unsolved Murders, FBI.gov is an official site of the U.S. Department of Justice. It is all the family can seem to talk about. Katelin Akens was last seen Saturday when her stepfather drove her from his home in Spotsylvania, about 60 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., to a suburban Washington shopping mall. And, um, yeah. We have worked with, what, three psychics? Detective Sharon Williams told WTTG-TV. If she is out there, is she going to be the same Katelin we know? I think Katelin told James about the night before and how she cheated. His house and vehicle were searched. They searched the home and land, as well as seized his technology and vehicles. The investigation into her disappearance will make you question everything . Erin Donaghue reports and writes for CBSNews.com on topics including criminal justice, social justice and culture. Im not coming back today, Ill let you know when I get a new flight. In a separate text, she immediately texts, I wont be able to text for a bit. (Unsure if they ever disclosed where her phone pinged at this time. Sullivan's thoughts often drift back to Dec. 5, 2015, when her daughter, Katelin Akens, disappeared at age 19. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Race. It didnt sound like her. Investigators launched a desperate search to bring her home, but with each new piece of evidence, they learned that home may not have been the safest place for her. Shes currently classified as an endangered missing person, which indicates that police dont think she left on her own free will either, and we can assume that they probably have more evidence than were privy to. Clothing/Jewelry Description A dark gray fleece pullover sweatshirt with a Bass Pro Shop emblem, black pants and pink and black Vans shoes. This leads investigators to believe the suitcase was thrown. Lisa has continued to hope that she will eventually know what happened to her daughter. After spending time with her folks, she had a flight back to Arizona on December 5, 2015. In an unexpected twist, seven years later in May 2007, a 37-year-old woman named Lea Aikens was found shot at her apartment. They confirmed with the airport that Katelin had never in fact made it on the plane, and they attempted to report her as a missing person to the police. This was odd to Amber. 0. Whenever possible, actual redditors have participated in investigating the events. They deserve justice. But it turns out that he didnt go to work that day. Akens disappeared on Dec. 5, 2015. Amber had also received a text message from Katelin that morning, at 11.56am, which said: "Something came up. Investigation Discovery's ' Disappeared . Luggage belonging to Katelin Akens, a 19-year-old woman who disappeared en route to a Virginia airport, has been found in a Spotsylvania County drainage ditch. They say they want to leave the door open for him to come forward with whatever information he has to clear up the discrepancies within his story. Join Facebook to connect with Kaitlyn Aikens and others you may know. Katelintold James about the new course that she was starting. Katelin Michelle Akens was born September 2nd, 1996, and was raised in Virginia with her sister Gabriella and her mom Lisa Sullivan. @WireImgId=11191138. All FBI Email Updates First published on December 9, 2015 / 5:31 PM. The body was later identified as 21 year old Heather Ciccone. What you are about to read is not a news broadcast. Pearce wouldn't comment on the contents of the suitcase or whether anything had been removed. Not one concerned call or text. Texas Missing Persons Clearinghouse Online Bulletin, Browse photos and searchable bulletins of missing persons, abductors, and unidentified persons, a central repository for information and pictures of missing and unidentified persons in Texas. The first big break in the case came on Monday when authorities discovered Akens' luggage discarded in a drainage ditch in Spotsylvania County near the Fredericksburg city limit. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. December 5 will be six years. When Katelin Akens was last seen, she was being dropped off by her stepfather at a Metro station, where she was supposed to travel to the airport to catch a flight to Arizona. Lisa dropped Katelin off with James at 9:20 that morning before work, and they had a great chance to catch up at home for a few hours before they made the drive 60 miles out to the airport from Partlow where James lived. navigation search. So getting up there quickly. Lisa replied thanking him and asking about traffic. Vanished While Traveling To #Arizona 540-507-7200 pic.twitter.com/qdTL7dCvmm, ARC (@AnonRoughCoitus) December 8, 2015, Virginia: Missing: KATELIN AKENS (VA): KATELIN AKENS, Age Now: 19, Missing: 12/05/2015.