In the summer of 2007, 17-year-old Brandi Natasha Cole was living a transient lifestyle in Tifton, Georgia. Due to the inherent risks of her situation, which included involvement with drugs, she had a pact with her mother, Shellie Auchtung. They agreed that Brandi would make contact at least once every seven days, or her mother would report her missing to the police. This was a rule Brandi had reportedly never broken. She was the mother of a young daughter who was in the care of Auchtung. On July 6, 2007, Brandi was expected to spend the evening and night with her mother and daughter, but she never arrived. The following day, July 7, was the last time she was ever seen.
On that Saturday, Brandi was seen in the Puckett Park area on the south side of Tifton. Witnesses reported seeing her get into a white, four-door, king-cab pickup truck. Inside the vehicle were four Hispanic men and one Black woman. After entering the truck, Brandi was never heard from or seen again. At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing a black lace tank top and blue jeans. She has several distinguishing physical features, including a mole on the right side of her mouth, crooked teeth, a tattoo of the letter 'B' on her ankle, and a carved or tattooed letter 'A' on her left hand.
In the years since Brandi vanished, her family has continued to search for answers and keep her memory alive. Her mother has expressed her belief that Brandi may have met with foul play. The family has held vigils on the anniversary of her disappearance to remind the community that she is still missing and that her family needs closure. Investigators have followed up on numerous leads, though none have led to a resolution in the case. There were theories that Brandi might have traveled to Mount Olive, North Carolina, or might still be in the Tifton area. Local rumors have circulated, including one suggesting she might be buried near a pond on Lower Brookfield Road, but these have not been substantiated. The Tift County Sheriff's Office continues to hold the case, and Brandi's family, including her daughter who is now a teenager, still waits for answers.
Last Seen: Jul 07, 2007
