Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"She seen something that made her turn around that fast and crossed the street." — Karen Phillips (Mother of Kiera Coles, as reported by WGN9 Chicago)
"She had a fight with the other baby's mother and she was banned from coming to the house." — Karen Phillips (Mother of Kiera Coles, as reported by NBC Chicago)
"She lives with me. We talk or text literally all day long, all day every day. She is not a runaway. She would never run away. She is missing. I promise you." — Tony Phillips (Mother of Kishay Jacobs)
This episode of Crime Junkie delves into two separate, distressing cases of young women who disappeared: Kiera Coles and Kishay Jacobs. The narrative for Kiera Coles begins with her mother, Karen Phillips, growing concerned after failing to reach her daughter. Initial investigations revealed Kiera's car containing her purse and phone, but not her regular wallet. Surveillance footage from her apartment building captured an individual, initially presumed to be Kiera, exhibiting unusual behavior by abruptly changing direction. This footage later became a point of contention, with Kiera's mother asserting it was not her daughter, a claim police allegedly acknowledged internally but did not publicly disclose. The investigation faced challenges with inconsistent timelines regarding Kiera's work schedule and a delayed official response. Despite mounting reward money and the involvement of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Kiera's case remains unsolved, with authorities eventually suspending their active investigation.
The podcast then shifts to the disappearance of Kishay Jacobs in Richmond, Virginia. Her mother, Tony Phillips, experienced a similar pattern of escalating worry after Kishay failed to make her daily contact. Police initially treated the case as a potential voluntary absence due to Kishay's age, causing significant frustration for her mother. Friends initially withheld information about where Kishay was last seen, later revealing she was dropped off at a house. The tenant of that house provided conflicting accounts of his last interaction with Kishay, leading Tony to call 911. Subsequent searches of the house, including its basement, yielded no clues. Adding to the family's immense tragedy, Kishay's brother, Davon, was murdered during this period, though police determined his death was unrelated to his sister's disappearance. Despite these devastating events and a later acknowledgement of suspected foul play by authorities, Kishay's case has also seen limited progress, with a potential lead from an incarcerated individual ultimately proving fruitless.
Both Kiera Coles and Kishay Jacobs' cases are characterized by a lack of definitive leads, frustrating investigative timelines, and the profound emotional impact on their families. The episode highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement in such complex investigations and underscores the enduring hope for answers and reunification. The podcast concludes by emphasizing the importance of community support and offers resources for anyone with information regarding these unsolved disappearances.