In the summer of 2003, the life of 32-year-old Selina Ruth Barfield was fraught with difficulty. Known to her loved ones as Nina, she was living in North Charleston, South Carolina, a mother of two children she loved dearly. Her family’s last physical contact with her was in June of that year, though a phone call to her uncle on July 29, 2003, would be the last time any relative heard her voice.
The exact date of her disappearance remains uncertain, with some accounts noting a last contact date of July 14, 2003. At the time, Selina was residing with her boyfriend in a trailer park on Remont Road, a relationship described by her family as turbulent and abusive. Friends and family were deeply concerned for her well-being, as she was not only a victim of domestic violence but also struggled with drug use and had encountered legal troubles.
Concern for Selina’s safety and her struggle with addiction prompted her sister to take a difficult step; she filed a probate warrant for Selina's arrest, hoping it would be the catalyst for her to enter a rehabilitation program and find safety. Tragically, this intervention would never come to pass. Selina disappeared just a couple of weeks after a severe beating, before the warrant could be served. She was reportedly last seen near the Stay Over Lodge at the intersection of McMillan and Rivers Avenue, where she used a telephone, but her movements after that point remain unknown. The disappearance was out of character, as she was a devoted mother who would not have willingly abandoned her son and daughter.
Years have passed without any contact from Selina, and her case has grown cold, leaving her family engulfed in unanswered questions and the pain of not knowing. Her family strongly suspects that she met with foul play, a belief rooted in the abusive relationship she was in at the time of her disappearance. Investigators have also expressed that they do not believe she simply left on her own to start a new life. The overview of this case is that of a vulnerable mother who vanished amidst a backdrop of domestic violence and personal struggles, just as her family was attempting to get her help. The lack of answers and the unresolved nature of her disappearance continue to be a source of profound grief for her children and loved ones who miss her deeply.Last Seen: Jul 14, 2003
