Shawtyeria Waites, a young woman originally from New Mexico and attending Prairie View A&M University in Houston, vanished on **July 25, 2021**, the evening of her 20th birthday celebration in Southwest Houston. She was described as about 5′9″ tall, weighing roughly 130 lb, with brown eyes and wearing a long, black curly wig, a pink two-piece dress, and pink sandals at the time she disappeared.
That night, she had gone out with two friends to a strip club and subsequently was dropped off near **8950 Chimney Rock Road** in the Meyerland area, after meeting a man at the club who invited them to his apartment complex. Waites entered the complex alone while her friends left briefly to buy makeup; when they returned, she was gone and her phone began going straight to voicemail shortly after.
Concern grew when her friends could not reach her; she was formally reported missing on **July 27, 2021**. Search flyers were distributed throughout the neighborhood by community supporters, including activist Quanell X, who questioned the responsiveness of Houston Police and authorities to the case.
By **August 13**, investigators determined there was evidence of foul play, and the case was transferred from the Missing Persons Unit to Houston Police Department’s Homicide Division. Witness accounts established that Waites had been dropped off at that location to meet a man later identified as **Jordan Potts**, age 26, whom witnesses believe they met at the strip club. Police concluded that she was killed inside Potts’ apartment that same night and placed in the trunk of his vehicle.
Court documents released later revealed that on the night of July 25, a neighbor reported hearing a woman screaming around 8:30 p.m. Police responded and questioned Potts, who claimed any noise was from video games, then left. The friend who had been waiting observed officers on scene, reported Waites missing, but HPD initially made no staff-level follow‑up at the apartment complex.
On **August 19**, investigators executed search warrants on Potts’ car and found blood, a shovel, a gas can, and evidence consistent with a body having been placed in the trunk. Cell‑phone data tracked Potts' phone traveling along Katy Freeway from 3:09 a.m. to 3:38 a.m. on **July 26**, stopping at the **Brookshire area**—the same area where human remains were discovered along the westbound service road on **August 27**. Among the recovered items was the pink dress Waites had been wearing. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Science later conducted an autopsy, confirming that the remains were those of Shawtyeria Waites.
On **August 30**, Houston PD formally charged Jordan Potts with murder in the 338th State District Court; at the time he was still at large and considered armed and dangerous. A warrant was issued for his arrest. Authorities noted he had tattoos on his right arm and believed he may have fled Texas—possibly to Oregon or Montana.
Potts was later arrested in **Gresham, Oregon** on **September 1**, 2021**, and taken into custody. His bond was set at $1 million. At that time he remained in police custody, awaiting further legal proceedings.
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**In summary**, Shawtyeria Waites disappeared on July 25, 2021, after being dropped off at an apartment complex in Southwest Houston. Over the following weeks, community-led searches and investigative work revealed evidence of foul play linked to Jordan Potts. Human remains found on August 27 matched her description and clothing, and authorities conclude she was killed the night she vanished. Potts was charged with her murder and arrested in early September 2021.
If you would like more details—such as court proceedings, background on individuals involved, or follow‑up developments—I’d be glad to assist with continued research.Last Seen: Jul 25, 2021
