Nearly eight years after Kierra Coles disappeared in Chicago, federal authorities are offering a record $250,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case.
Coles was 26 and three months pregnant when she vanished on October 2, 2018. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has now dramatically increased its reward, hoping the new incentive will bring forward information that could help investigators determine what happened to her.
The agency originally announced a $25,000 reward shortly after Coles disappeared. The latest $250,000 offer is the largest reward ever issued by the Postal Inspection Service for information connected to a case, according to authorities.
A Long Search
Coles was a postal employee living in Chicago when she disappeared. Her family has spent years seeking answers, while investigators have continued to examine the circumstances surrounding her final known movements.
According to her relatives, Coles was last seen in the Chatham neighborhood near 81st Street and Vernon Avenue.
Her disappearance quickly became a major concern because several personal belongings were left behind. Her vehicle was discovered parked on her block, with her cellphone and pocketbook still inside.
Those details have remained central to the mystery surrounding her disappearance.
Final Known Sighting
Investigators released surveillance footage in 2022 that provided a clearer picture of Coles’ final known movements.
The video showed her inside a Walgreens in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood, where she withdrew cash from an ATM. Authorities have identified that footage as the last known image of Coles before she disappeared.
Additional surveillance footage captured Coles leaving her apartment in her vehicle with a man whom police later identified as a person of interest.
The sequence of events has made the man a key part of the investigation, although authorities have not charged him with a crime.
Person Of Interest
Police have said the man seen with Coles was questioned during the investigation.
According to authorities, investigators received conflicting accounts from him about what happened that night. He was also reportedly seen returning to Coles’ apartment the following day, while her vehicle remained outside.
Despite those circumstances, no arrest has been made in connection with Coles’ disappearance.
Authorities have not publicly established what happened after Coles’ final confirmed sighting, leaving critical questions unanswered nearly eight years later.
Missing While Pregnant
Coles’ pregnancy adds another painful dimension to the case.
She was approximately three months pregnant when she disappeared. Her family has continued to search for answers about both Coles and her unborn child.
The circumstances of her disappearance have also kept the case active in the public eye, with her relatives repeatedly appealing for anyone who may have information to come forward.
The passage of time has not changed the family’s determination to locate her.
What She Looks Like
Authorities continue to circulate identifying information about Coles in the hope that someone may remember seeing her or have information about her whereabouts.
At the time of her disappearance, Coles was described as a 26-year-old Black woman who stood about 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighed approximately 125 pounds. She had black hair, brown eyes and a medium complexion.
She has distinctive tattoos that could help someone recognize her. One is a heart tattoo on her right hand. Another reads “Lucky Libra” and is located on her back.
Anyone who believes they may have information connected to the case is encouraged to contact investigators, even if the information seems insignificant.
Family Adds Reward
Coles’ relatives have also put money behind their continued search.
Her family is offering an additional $63,000 reward for information that helps them find her.
The combined efforts of the family and federal investigators reflect the continuing urgency of the case. Investigators are particularly interested in information that could help establish Coles’ whereabouts after her last confirmed sighting or clarify the events surrounding her disappearance.
Record Federal Reward
The new federal reward represents a significant increase from the amount initially offered.
The Postal Inspection Service first offered $25,000 soon after Coles disappeared in 2018. Years later, the agency has raised that figure to $250,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
The unusually large reward underscores the importance authorities place on solving the case and finding out what happened to Coles.
Investigators are hoping the offer may persuade someone who previously remained silent to contact law enforcement.
How To Help
Anyone with information about Kierra Coles’ disappearance can contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455.
Callers should say “Law Enforcement” when prompted and reference Case No. 2693502-WPV.
Information can be useful even if it concerns events from years ago. Investigators are seeking details that could help reconstruct Coles’ movements, identify people who interacted with her around the time she disappeared, or provide new leads in the search.
For Coles’ family, the renewed reward offers another opportunity to bring attention to a case that has remained unresolved since 2018. Nearly eight years after a pregnant young woman vanished from Chicago, the central question remains the same: Where is Kierra Coles, and what happened to her?
