Sasha Lee Naylor, a 25-year-old expectant mother, vanished from Albemarle, North Carolina, on August 21, 2018. At the time of her disappearance, she was pregnant and her baby was due in February 2019. Originally from Ohio, Naylor had relocated to North Carolina with her boyfriend, Joseph Lee Rhodes, in hopes of building a better life. She had left her young daughter in the care of her own mother in Ohio with the intention of returning for her once she was settled.
Concerns for her welfare grew after her family, who she was in regular contact with, did not hear from her for an extended period. The last communication her mother had with her indicated that she had been asked to leave the home of her boyfriend's mother and was staying at a local shelter.
The circumstances surrounding Sasha's disappearance became increasingly alarming when her car, a 1998 Ford Tempo, was discovered burned and abandoned in Marshville shortly after she was last seen. Despite this discovery, she wasn't officially reported as a missing person until January 2019, as her family initially thought she might have returned to Ohio. The investigation into her disappearance took a grim turn in February 2019 when her boyfriend, Joseph Lee Rhodes, was arrested and charged with her murder and the murder of their unborn child. Authorities believe that foul play is strongly suspected in her case, even though her body has not been recovered.
Two other individuals were later charged with assisting in the cover-up of the crime. In October 2023, Rhodes's trial for the murder of Sasha and their unborn child resulted in a hung jury, with the majority of jurors voting for a guilty verdict, but failing to reach the required unanimous decision for a conviction. He is currently awaiting a second trial. The case remains an active investigation as law enforcement continues to seek answers and bring closure to Sasha's family. The search for Sasha continues, with her family and community holding out hope for justice.Last Seen: Aug 21, 2018
