Tyarra Cacique Williams was a 19-year-old female with plans for the future when she vanished from Greensboro, North Carolina, on the evening of January 7, 2016. That day, she had been preparing for her upcoming classes at Guilford Technical Community College, having just enrolled and received her student ID. She spent time with her mother, Danielle, her boyfriend, Aaron, and her younger brother, even helping to take down the Christmas tree.
Later that evening, around 8:00 PM, Tyarra, her boyfriend, and her brother were at her grandmother's apartment in the Stoneybrook Apartment complex. She told them she was going to visit a friend who lived in the same complex and would be back in about an hour. She was last seen wearing a pink shirt, a black North Face jacket, blue jeans, and a royal blue knit cap.
The hours that followed her departure were filled with growing concern. When Tyarra didn't return as promised, and calls to her cell phone went unanswered, her family's worry intensified. It was unusual for Tyarra's phone to be off, as she was known to always keep it with her. Her mother, Danielle, knew something was wrong, stating that it was completely out of character for her daughter to leave without telling anyone or to be out of touch. The family began their own search, canvassing the apartment complex and putting up flyers. Police were notified, but the initial response was slower than the family had hoped, as Tyarra was legally an adult. Investigators later determined through GPS data from her phone that she had made it to a friend's apartment and was on her way back when the phone's signal stopped, indicating it was either turned off or the battery had died.
As the investigation officially began, details about Tyarra's last known interactions started to surface. It was discovered she had been in contact with an ex-boyfriend. This individual initially denied recent contact but later admitted to police that he had met with Tyarra in his car for about 20 to 30 minutes on the night she disappeared, after which he said she got out and started walking back toward her grandmother's apartment. A search of his vehicle did not produce any evidence. Despite numerous searches of the area, including a nearby tractor-trailer lot following tips, no trace of Tyarra was found. The Greensboro Police Department has stated they suspect foul play in her disappearance. Over the years, her case has been reviewed by a team of retired detectives in an effort to bring a fresh perspective, but it remains unsolved. The disappearance of Tyarra Williams is a painful mystery for her family, who continue to hold out hope for answers, and for a community left with unresolved questions about what happened to the bright young woman who vanished on a cold January night.Last Seen: Jan 7, 2016
