Who is Tamia Taylor? Mississippi woman who went missing while celebrating her 21st birthday on riverboat found dead
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE: Tamia Taylor wanted to make her 21st birthday a memorable one. She got herself a riverboat cruise and had all her friends close by as they celebrated with her.
The Mississippi native went missing on the night of the party after getting on Queen Booze Cruise on September 9, as per the Memphis Police Department.
What did police say about Tamia Taylor?
Memphis Police Department released a statement on Tamia Taylor going missing.
"Miss Taylor boarded the Island Queen Booze Cruise at approximately 11:30 pm on Saturday evening, September 9, 2023, but was not seen by her companions after the boat returned to the dock and everyone offloaded," police wrote in the September 12 release.
"There were two exits on the boat for patrons to offload at the conclusion of the ride," police added.
The authorities further said, "Early Sunday morning, Miss Taylor's mother drove to Memphis to file a missing person report after several unsuccessful attempts were made to contact her by phone."
On Saturday, September 23, the Memphis Police Department shared through a press release that they were "assisting the Crittenden County Sheriff's Department in the investigation of a body that was recovered on the Arkansas side of the Mississippi River."
Do you have any information regarding the disappearance of Tamia Taylor? pic.twitter.com/LXe59MaQv8
— Memphis Police Dept (@MEM_PoliceDept) September 12, 2023
How did Tamia Taylor die?
It was on Wednesday, September 27, when the body of Taylor was found as it awaits autopsy.
In the meantime, WATN-TV, and WHBQ-TV reported that the Crittenden County coroner confirmed her death was due to drowning.
Earlier, Memphis Riverboats told People, that they had "no reason to believe she could have gone overboard."
"We can confirm from video footage circling around that she was last seen on the boat as the boat was pulling into the Harbor, where we dock our boats," they wrote, adding "We hope she is found safe and returns home."
Taylor was reported missing for about two weeks and was last seen on the riverboat with friends before her body was discovered.
The Dock Ellis Foundation, a nonprofit that assists the families of missing minority women, reacted to the news on Tuesday, September 26.
"Debra Taylor and her family are truly [grateful] for your thoughts and prayers. Dock Ellis Foundation is asking everyone to please allow the family time to heal. We will all carry Tamia Taylor in our hearts," they wrote on Facebook.
"Tamia Taylor your life we honour, your departure we accept, your memory we cherish. And although there is grief today as we say goodbye, there is gratitude for your life," the post added.