In the winter of 2024, a 26-year-old mother named Daja Aarionna Nai Lucas vanished from St. Louis, Missouri, leaving behind a community searching for answers. On the morning of December 17, her day began like any other as she dropped her two daughters off at school. After returning to her residence in the 3700 block of Texas, she left the home on foot around 11 a.m. During this time, she was on the phone with her father, who grew concerned as he noticed she sounded distressed.
Daja mentioned being on Miami Street before the call came to an abrupt end, marking the last time her family would hear from her. That conversation was the start of a distressing mystery for her loved ones and a city that would soon learn her name.
Concerns for Daja's well-being were amplified by her family's belief that she was experiencing a state of psychosis at the time of her disappearance. Daja lives with mental health conditions, including postpartum depression, and has had previous episodes where she was drawn to bodies of water. Shortly after she went missing, sightings began to surface. Around 11:30 a.m., she was reportedly seen running without shoes near a gas station on Arsenal and Lemp. On that same day, she was also seen standing on a porch for about twenty minutes in the 2800 block of Lemp. Witnesses also reported seeing her walking in and out of traffic on Gravois Road. When she left home, she was wearing a black nightgown or t-shirt dress with the words 'NEW YORK' across the chest in white, along with blue-green socks. She has distinctive tattoos, including the name 'Timothy' on her right bicep and 'Mike' on her chest. The last confirmed sighting of Daja was on the morning of December 31, 2024, when she was seen walking along Gravois Road in Affton.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department launched an investigation into Daja's disappearance, conducting extensive searches along Gravois Road and collaborating with adjacent jurisdictions. Despite these efforts and pleas for public assistance, no new leads have emerged since the last sighting. Authorities have noted that due to her state of mind, Daja might be reluctant to provide her real name if approached by someone. The case of Daja Lucas is a heart-wrenching story of a young mother who disappeared under vulnerable circumstances. Her family and community are left waiting, holding onto hope for her safe return as law enforcement continues to ask for any information that could help locate her.Last Seen: Dec 17, 2024
