Shemika Cosey
Shemika Cosey was 16 at the time she disappeared in the early morning hours of December 29, 2008, after spending the night at her aunt’s home in Berkeley, Missouri. She had gone in and out of the house several times that evening, but when the family woke up around 8:30 a.m., she was gone.
Her clothing and most of her belongings were still inside, the front door was left unlocked, and there were no signs of a struggle. Only her purse and jacket were missing. She didn’t have a cell phone, and she hasn’t been seen or heard from since.
Investigators believe Shemika left sometime between 1:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., though they’ve never been able to determine whether she walked out alone or left with someone.
Her case was initially classified as an endangered runaway, and authorities noted she had previously spent time in the East St. Louis, Illinois area. But as the years passed with no contact, no sightings, and no confirmed leads, her family’s fears deepened.
A notebook found later by her mother added another layer of concern. In it, Shemika had written to a school friend about a boyfriend she believed might have gotten her pregnant. Police interviewed the boy, but nothing came from it. Her mother has always believed that if Shemika left that night, she intended to come back — and that something prevented her from doing so.
She does not believe her daughter would willingly stay out of touch for more than a decade. The family worries she may have been exploited or trafficked.
Shemika’s disappearance remains unsolved, and the years without answers have weighed heavily on those who love her. Even the smallest detail — a memory from that night, someone she may have spoken to, a sighting that didn’t seem important at the time — could help bring clarity to a case that has been quiet for far too long.
If you have any information about the disappearance of Shemika Cosey, please contact the Berkeley Police Department at (314) 524‑3311 or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at (800) THE‑LOST.
