Rita Marie Shaw, a 44-year-old woman from New Orleans, Louisiana, vanished on April 1, 2011. She was last seen at her home in the 4700 block of Cerise Street, where she lived with her mother. The last person known to have seen her was her boyfriend. The specifics of her departure remain unclear; it is not known if she left by herself or if someone picked her up. Her mother reported her missing, stating that it was highly uncharacteristic for Rita to leave without informing anyone.
Since that day, there has been no communication from Rita, and her case has grown cold, leaving her family with unanswered questions.
At the time of her disappearance, Rita was described as a Black female, standing at 5'9' and weighing around 220 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. She had a scar on her back and possibly another on her right wrist. Due to thinning hair, she may have been wearing a wig. Rita was living with schizophrenia and required medication to manage her condition. Her family noted that when she was not on her medication, she would sometimes self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. Her brother described her as a 'solid person' who would 'give you the shirt off of her back,' despite her personal struggles.
The investigation into Rita's disappearance has been met with significant challenges and few leads. Tragically, her boyfriend, who was the last person to see her, was murdered three years after she went missing in an area they both frequented. While he was not considered a suspect by police or Rita's family, his death eliminated a potential source of information. Over the years, the case has been passed between detectives, and as of late 2021, Rita's family reported they had not received updates from the New Orleans Police Department in nearly five years, leaving them feeling that her case has been forgotten. The absence of new information has been deeply distressing for her loved ones, who are left to wonder what happened to her while holding onto the hope of one day finding closure.Last Seen: Apr 1, 2011
