Kierra Coles /// Part 2

Summary

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True Crime Garage: Kierra Coles /// Part 2 (Dec 2, 2025)

Hosts: Nic & the Captain
Case Covered: Disappearance of Kierra Coles, Missing Pregnant Woman from Chicago
Main Theme: An in-depth examination of the circumstances surrounding Kierra Coles' disappearance, the investigation's shortcomings, family efforts, and broader societal issues affecting similar cases.

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Episode Overview

This episode is Part 2 of True Crime Garage's coverage of the mysterious disappearance of Kierra Coles—a pregnant 26-year-old postal worker from Chicago who vanished in October 2018. Nic and the Captain walk listeners through new investigative developments, the pain and advocacy of Kierra's family, and critical reflections on media attention and law enforcement's actions (or lack thereof). Woven throughout are sharp observations, personal appeals, and a comparison to a hauntingly similar case, underlining systemic issues around missing women of color.

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Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Family’s Refusal to Give Up ([03:37–05:22])

• Strong focus on Kierra’s mother, Karen Phillips King, her tireless advocacy, and the annual “We Walk for Her” march.
• Direct quotes from Karen show her heartbreak but resolve.
  • "If you know something, say something. You know this is going on too long. And I just hope anybody out there that knows anything, have a heart and finally call in."
• Community pushes for attention on missing cases in black and brown communities.

2. The Boyfriend, "Josh": Actions & Police Focus ([05:22–09:09])

• In April 2019, Karen publicly admits growing suspicion toward Josh, Kierra’s boyfriend.
  • "I haven't heard anything from this guy since the day the police went to do the wellness check. I haven't seen him around town, haven't talked to him, nothing." (Nick recounting Karen, [05:22])
• Josh and his other partner—also pregnant—moved out of state soon after Kierra disappeared, evading further police contact.
• Family held vigils and press conferences demanding answers, particularly from Josh.
• "The crowd cheered when people questioned why, if Josh hadn't done anything, he was afraid to talk to the police." (Nick [08:20])
• Captain: "Yeah, pretty shady." ([05:58])

3. The Ongoing Investigation and Law Enforcement Critique ([09:10–12:43])

• Case reward increased to $46,000 by May 2019, but still no resolution.
• In July 2022, CPD announced the case was “suspended,” leading to community outrage.
  • "It's frustrating that it's going to be two years... and for you all... to say you all don't have enough to go on, it's really disappointing." (Nick quoting Karen, [11:00])
• Nic and the Captain criticize law enforcement for not pursuing Josh after he moved, calling it a "lazy job."
  • "Pick up a phone and call this guy. Fly down there and try to interview him."
• Case remains classified as high risk, foul play suspected.

4. Media Coverage Disparity ([13:08–14:38])

• Karen and community activists are vocal about the lack of media attention compared to cases like Gabby Petito’s.
  • "They will cover a black person's case, but you might see it one time; with a white woman you might see it all that week or even every week."
• Frustration at how missing Black women are de-prioritized.

5. 2022: Crucial New Surveillance Unveiled ([14:57–21:27])

• Release of eight-minute police video with multiple surveillance clips fundamentally changes the timeline.
  1. Kierra seen returning home with groceries on Oct 2 (evening).
  2. A man (“person of interest”—strongly suggested to be Josh) joins her, later leaves with her in Kierra’s car.
  3. At 10:43pm, Kierra withdraws $400 cash at Walgreens ATM—uncharacteristic for her, as per her mother.
     • "She was very conservative with her money…incredibly out of character." ([16:48])
  4. She is believed to give the cash to her boyfriend (Josh) immediately after ([18:17]).
     • "Old red flag." (Captain, [19:08])
  5. Car seen again, a man (not Kierra) exits passenger seat and walks off; no one else seen leaving.
  6. Later, man returns to Kierra's apartment, removes items, departs in his own vehicle.
• Speculation about possible small blood stains found in Kierra's car (not confirmed).

6. Law Enforcement’s Person(s) of Interest, Disputed Timelines & Possible Accomplices ([25:51–30:05])

• Detective Will Savlar confirms belief Kierra was killed shortly after the ATM withdrawal ([25:59]).
• Police have consistently declined to name Josh publicly, but implications are clear.
• Discussion about possible involvement of Josh’s other partner, who also worked for USPS and may have called in “sick” for Kierra to work.
  • "Is she the one that calls off for our missing person?...have to give voice, a woman's voice and call off for her?" (Nick [29:42])

7. Family’s Continued Advocacy and Despair ([30:13–33:58])

• Reward increases to $63,000 in March 2023.
• Family holds public events, shares identifying information on tattoos, etc.
  • "Very young woman here with her whole life ahead of her, and she had everything in place."
• Captain laments: "I've seen this for years—the sexier story comes out and some cases just don't get the coverage they deserve." ([31:56])

8. Parallels to the Akia Eggleston Case ([33:58–39:23])

• Another missing pregnant Black woman: almost identical circumstances; last seen withdrawing cash, boyfriend had another pregnant girlfriend, moved out of state.
• In Akia's case, after four years, boyfriend Michael Robertson was convicted on circumstantial evidence and without a body.
  • "It took four and a half years, Captain, but... he was arrested and charged with two counts of murder... may provide a glimmer of hope for Kiera’s family." ([37:50])
• Police traced Robertson’s movements and search history for trash collection/landfills.

9. Reflections, Pressure, and Calls to Action ([40:01–44:00])

• Nic and the Captain urge those with information—especially Josh’s current partner—to come forward for the substantial reward, or simply to do the right thing.
• "This is why Kiera's mother, Karen is so correct. You need to shine light and bring attention to these cases. It puts pressure on law enforcement... on eyewitnesses... on Josh, on Josh's current girlfriend..." (Captain, [41:31])
• Stark condemnation of Josh’s behavior:
  • "He dated her for six years and he didn't search for her, he didn't put up flyers, he didn't knock on doors, he lied to the family, he lied to law enforcement, he changed his story..." ([43:31])

10. Resources and Social Advocacy ([43:52–45:02])

• Photos of Kierra and case details on the True Crime Garage website and missingpersonscenter.org.
• Encourage contacting Chicago PD or U.S. Postal Inspection Service with tips: 877-876-2455
• Reference to HBO documentary "Black and Missing" covering similar cases and media inequity.

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Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Karen Phillips King (Kierra’s Mother):

  • "You could be the one to help bring Kierra home.” ([03:59])
  • "I can't let her down. I got to do all that I can to bring her and her child home safe.” ([04:52])
  • "As the years go on, it gets harder and harder. Definitely with the police not doing what they're supposed to do, it makes it even harder." ([30:38])

• Nic & Captain Reflections:

  • "Pick up a phone and call this guy. Fly down there and try to interview him." (Nick [11:13])
  • "Old red flag." (Captain, [19:08])
  • "If you have avenues to pursue, which I think they do... I just don't like the status of suspended on this case." (Nick [39:36])
  • "He (Josh) dated her for six years and didn't search for her... He's a real piece of shit." (Captain, [43:32])

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Timeline & Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Key Topic | |:-------------:|:----------------------------------------------| | 03:37–05:22 | Family’s plea, surveillance footage, community events | | 05:22–09:09 | Focus on boyfriend Josh; his disappearance, suspicions | | 09:10–12:43 | Reward money, investigation ‘suspended’, police critique | | 13:08–14:38 | Media coverage disparity & racial bias | | 14:57–21:27 | New 2022 surveillance: ATM, car, timeline shift | | 25:51–30:05 | Detective Savlar: cash handoff, police skepticism | | 33:58–39:23 | Parallel case: Akia Eggleston | | 40:01–44:00 | Urging witnesses (esp. girlfriend) to come forward | | 43:52–45:02 | Resources, social advocacy |

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Resources Mentioned

• MissingPersonsCenter.org — Photos, case updates, links to video.
• Report Tips: Chicago Police Department or U.S. Postal Inspection Service (877-876-2455)
• HBO/Max: Documentary “Black and Missing” (features similar cases)
• Recommended: The Missing Persons Podcast & “Aftermath” by Bill Gilmore

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Tone and Takeaway

Nic and the Captain combine empathy, outrage, and humor—all with an armchair-detective’s rigor and personal accountability. The episode is a powerful plea to break the silence around underreported missing persons cases, particularly Black women, and to hold both law enforcement and communities to higher standards of attention and care.

Final message:
"Be good, be kind, and don't litter."
—True Crime Garage

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Transcript

[Ted Danson]

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[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Foreign.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

Welcome to True Crime Garage, wherever you are, whatever you're doing, thanks for listening. I'm your host, Nick and with me, as always, we have a man who knows your email password. Here is the Captain and you should.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Be ashamed of yourself. You made it so easy. It's good to be seen. Good to see you. Thanks for listening. Thanks for telling a friend.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

Today we still have some of this fantastic beer called 14 Karat. 14 Karat is a 14th anniversary IPA brewed by the brew team over at Sun King. It's hoppy, bitter, malty and smooth out nicely for a classic hoppy beer taste. Garage grade 4 out of 5 bottle caps. And let's give some cheers and thank yous to our friends for filling up the fridge this week for us here in the garage.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

A big we like your jib goes out to Dan from Shippingsburg, Pennsylvania.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

And last but certainly not least, Captain, we have Katie and Maddox from Aurora. Everyone we just mentioned went to truecrimegarage.com and donated to this week's beer fund. And for that we we thank you.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Yeah, BW Double R, you win Beer run. If you'd like to meet us in person. And why wouldn't you? Because we smell delicious. We'll be at Crimecon Nashville this year and our promo code is TCG for 10% off. We'll also be at CrimeCon UK, same promo code, TCG for 10% off. Join us. Smell our musk. And that's enough of the business.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

All right, everybody, gather round. Grab a chair, grab a beer. Let's talk some true crime.

[Narrator/Reporter]

A mother's hope to find her missing pregnant daughter.

[Kiera Cole's Mother (Karen Phillips King)]

I would love to see her with her child. Cause she is such a mothering person.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Chicago police released new surveillance video of Kierra Cole's from 2018. The last moments she was seen running errands. Also with a person of interest. The CPD video includes a plea from Cole's mother directly.

[Kiera Cole's Mother (Karen Phillips King)]

You could be the one to help bring Kierra home.

[Narrator/Reporter]

While initial surveillance video released by CPD was not, Cole's investigators and Cole's family hope everyone will stop to check out these new images to try and close this cold case.

[Kiera Cole's Mother (Karen Phillips King)]

If you know something, say something. You know this is going on too long. And, you know, I just hope anybody out there that knows anything, have a heart. And finally call in.

[Narrator/Reporter]

This afternoon, community organizers Prepare for the 5th annual march. We walk for her at 5 o' clock at 35th and King. The purpose, to bring attention to all the unsolved cases of missing women and girls of color.

[Kiera Cole's Mother (Karen Phillips King)]

What's most important is that every case Kierra Coles case and every Cole case gets the necessary attention that it deserves in black and brown communities.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Coles was a letter carrier. She would be the mother of a young child.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

Now.

[Kiera Cole's Mother (Karen Phillips King)]

I can't let her down. I got to do all that I can to bring her and her child home safe.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Cole's mother says a painful void remains for their family, but hopes someone with information will ease their suffering.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

In April of 2019, ABC News talked to Karen Phillips King, Kiara's mom. Phillips said she tries to remain positive as her suspicions run high toward her daughter's boyfriend, saying, quote, I've never pointed fingers at him in the beginning, but all of this time has passed. So by this point, Captain, we're talking six months after her daughter has disappeared. She's saying, I haven't heard anything from this guy since the day the police went to do the wellness check. I haven't seen him around town, haven't talked to him, nothing.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Yeah, pretty shady.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

And so she's saying, given that six months has gone by, he must have had something to do with it. NBC 5 Investigates reported that there was no criminal history in Josh's past that they were able to uncover. The chief communications officer at the Chicago Police Department told ABC News that Josh remained a person of interest, given that he may have been one of the last individuals to See her meaning Kiera. CPD told NBC's Dateline that there was no proof of life for Kiara. We have a pretty good idea of what transpired. They said. Now it's a matter of finding evidence. There is a minimum of two or three people of interest who were the last to see Kiera before she disappeared. We've narrowed down our group here to a personal associate of hers, a friend who was one of the last people to see her. So that's a little insight into their investigation and who they think are persons of interest. But then there's this. Josh and his other baby mama and their kids like you talked about briefly yesterday, Captain, they move out of state. Now, it's unclear when they moved away, but several articles say it was, quote, soon. But what we do know is she goes missing in October of 2018. We do know that they moved out of Illinois before the end of the year, before the end of 2018. So that's not a lot of time between disappearing in the end of the year. Again, we don't know the exact date. From everything that we've looked at, it looks like police have not been in contact with Josh after he left Illinois in January of 2019. We have Kiera's family and several postal worker friends that held a very public vigil slash press conference for their missing loved one. This was led by community activists and her relatives, all pleading for information in the case and also reminding the public that There was a $28,000 reward for information this case. That reward included 25,000 from the U.S. postal Inspection Service, 2,500 from the Chicago branch of the national association for Letter Carriers. So they're banding together, hoping to find one of their own. Some of the relatives called out Josh Simmons by name at this event, demanding that he speak with police. Since he had refused to do so since very early on in the investigation. They all loudly demanded, clear your name. In fact, Karen said that Josh had never been officially questioned. In her opinion, she meant beyond this initial interview. The crowd cheered when people questioned why, if Josh hadn't done anything, that he was afraid to talk to the police. Kiera's dad gave an impassioned speech pointing out that Josh's missing inaction status is questionable and should be questioned. And he was begging the public for tips and for leads.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Well, just to be clear, I have no problem with Josh getting a lawyer. But again, this is your girlfriend of six years. She's carrying your child. You would think you would want to give him as much information as possible.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

Well, and Then another sad date will be the due date. April 23rd. Yeah, was the due date. And it came and went and no new news. In May of 2019, the family announced that the reward for information leading to Kiera's whereabouts had increased to $46,000. This was after a rather large donation from a local businessman and unfortunately no one has ever come to collect that money. We've not found Kiera. In July of 2022 there was more bad news. Kiera wasn't found as we stated, but the CPD announced that they were. This is one of the issues that I have with this case. They announced that they were quote, suspending the investigation. So the case classified as suspended, meaning that the case cannot proceed further at this time.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Right.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

That can happen for a variety of reasons from my understanding, including detectives exhausting all leads. My understanding, Captain, is that this is not a permanent status and can be changed if more information becomes available to police. But of course, her family is horrified to learn that the police were essentially abandoning the case, the investigation. Karen told ABC News that she feels the police just put it meaning the case to the side because they were frustrated with it. It's already frustrating that it's going to be two years, she said. And for you all, meaning the Chicago Police Department, to say you all don't have enough to go on, it's really disappointing. I mean if you've not spoke to your person of interest who moved out of state since he moved.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Yeah. Which is ridiculous.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

It seems to me like kind of a lazy job. If you're going to go, well, we're suspending the case because we're, we're lacking information. Pick up a phone and call this guy.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Yeah.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

Fly down there and try to interview him.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Yeah.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

See if he will talk. Times change, people change. Maybe he will talk. Maybe he's tired of the fingers being pointed at him and we're in his direction and he's willing to open up.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Not that it really matters much, but I would like to know if he transferred to another USPS job because that make it less suspicious of why he would transfer, but because like we said before, he had a good position at the USPS in Chicago.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

Police have stated they countered after the announcement of the investigation being suspended that they continue to work jointly with the U.S. postal Inspection Service and the FBI and that the case remained a high risk missing persons investigation with foul play suspected. So it's a little talking out of both sides of your mouth, I guess in this situation to say this one thing then also almost in the Same breath say that the case has been suspended. Doesn't seem, it doesn't seem to be on point here.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

It also seems like law enforcement went from being very connected to the family and giving them information and again, privy information. Hey, you're telling us this isn't your daughter. We know it's not your daughter. Don't tell people. We're on the same team. They kind of go from that to not really having much communication with Karen at all.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

Well, and here's the thing too, and this became an issue. So in 2021, remember the Gabby Petito case. This becomes nationwide news. Everybody's kind of following this Gabby case. Karen is upset at the juxtaposition with the coverage received by her daughter's case. She's saying, look, my daughter's case made national headlines for a day, maybe two, and that was it. Gabby's case was a headline news for weeks. And Karen's friend, this is community activist George Ivy, said in a September 21 press conference, quote, I want you all to treat Kiera Cole's case like it was Gabby's. End quote. Karen said that they will cover a black person's case, but you might see it one time with a white woman. You might see it all that week or even every week. The family wasn't just disappointed in the lack of media coverage, they were mad at CPD and the US Postal Inspection Service which they felt continued to under prioritize this case. Her father, Joseph Kohl's told Chicago Sun Times in 2021 that he had heard the investigators in had their eye on someone, but he hadn't received any updates as of late. He too expressed frustration with the police and their failure to focus on missing black women and children.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Because Josh hasn't been super cooperative and we don't really have a great idea of her movements on October 2nd other than that she went to the store and talked to her mother about that. But that's all going to change in June of 2022.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

Yeah, this is when a whole bunch of new information comes out and it seems a little strange to me that, that they were holding on to this so tightly and secretively for so long. So In June of 2022, the Chicago Police Department decided that they were going to release some new real, some real information here. Right. So they issued a eight minute long video with an update on the case. This was video footage. It contains some video footage from across the street from Kiera's apartment on Tuesday evening, October 2nd, sometime when it was still light outside. It showed Kiera parking her car outside her building and walking into her apartment. This is lugging groceries, bags. So this is returning. Our best guess would be returning from that trip to the grocery store that we've talked about. And then what we have to on the video footage is a man referred to by detectives as a person of interest subsequently arrives and also enters the apartment sometime later. Now it's dark outside, Kiera and the man, slash person of interest, walked out of the apartment. They got into Kiera's car with Kiera driving and they drove off. Minutes later at 10:43pm, Kiera was seen on surveillance footage from inside a 24 hour Walgreens located at 8628 South Cottage Grove. She walks in, she goes straight to one of those standalone ATM machines. Yeah, she made two withdrawals and then she leaves the Walgreens, she makes two withdrawals.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

But. And don't we believe that the total is roughly around $400?

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

Yeah, we don't have to go roughly or believe. We know by police statements that she withdrawed a total of $400 from her bank account. Right. Because verified by police. And what's wild about this too, Captain, it seems like a very, it seems, I don't want to say planned out is not, is not the right word here, but she's, she's in that Walgreens for less than three minutes, in and out. So her movements and her chore, her task is, is well known to her before going into those doors. She doesn't shop or do anything else while she's there. She just simply goes to the atm. Now of course police are, they want to know from her, the people that knew her best, what do you make of this? And to which Karen is saying, look, this is incredibly an extremely out of character for my daughter. She was very conservative with her money and she didn't have an answer as to why her daughter would simply walk in and get $400 cash.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

If you're in law enforcement, the first question is who's this cash for? Is it for her or is it for somebody else?

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

Here's another news article out there by CBS Chicago that reported that Chicago detectives.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Told.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

The family that the couple went to an ATM nearby where the video captured Kiera taking out 400 from her bank account and handing it over to her boyfriend. Okay, so this is interesting to me because what we're hearing here in this report, in this statement, if this is true, police for some reason seem to have reason to believe that after they went to the ATM that Kiera gave the money to who they are referring to in this story as her boyfriend. Right, so that goes to what you were saying there, Captain. She goes to this atm, mom has no clue why her daughter would take out $400 cash. And police, according to this report, are saying she gave it to Josh.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Old red flag.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

So now there's more information here. Less than an hour later, this is before 11:45pm, Kiera's car was again captured on video from a another area of the city. The car drove up, parked in a male person, not a male carrier.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Right, right.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

Not a U.S. postal Service. A man. A man climbed out of the passenger seat and closed the door and walked away. And what the, what the footage does not show us, so it shows us this man getting out of the car, passenger side. It does not show anybody else ever getting out of that vehicle.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

And how weird is that?

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

Exactly.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

How weird is that? So what I'm guessing is this man drove the car, parked it, scooted on to the passenger side and then left that way. Yeah, that's, that's what I'm guessing.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

I'm guessing he didn't drive the vehicle with his mind.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Yeah, there's no ghost rider.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

I'm the only one that can do that.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

But there's, but there's more evidence of where that car goes.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

Yeah. So daytime video surveillance from Kiera's neighborhood. It's unclear what time of day. It shows a person of interest driving up to Kiera's block in her car. In her car. The man parked the car, got out, walked into the apartment building, into Kiera's apartment and soon exited after seen carrying some unidentified items out of the place. He then climbs into what is described as his vehicle which had been parked nearby on the block overnight, and drives off. So in the eight minute video it shows some still shots of the interior of Kira's apartment and two shots of the interior of her car with what could be tiny drops of blood splashed on the inside of the vehicle. This is what people have said that they think they're seeing when they see the pictures of the interior of her vehicle.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Yeah, there's red drops, but that's not confirmed by police.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

So for four years everyone believed that Kiera was alive and last seen wearing a poster uniform on that Wednesday, October 3rd. Right.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Big misstep by law enforcement.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

So we now learn that that's absolutely incorrect. She was actually last seen at an ATM the night before dressed in a dark jacket or hoodie, leggings, knee high socks and sneakers and a hat.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

So the given money to her boyfriend.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

The new timeline putting her missing at about 10:45pm Tuesday and no one really alerting to her being missing until Thursday meant that someone had plenty of time to dispose of Kiera and dispose and hide. And we we say it every week. Hide, bury, burn, conceal, evidence.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Foreign.

[Ted Danson]

Hey everybody, Ted Danson here to tell you about my podcast with my longtime friend and sometimes co host Woody Harrelson. It's called where everybody knows your name and we're back for another season. I'm so excited to be joined this season by friends like John Mulaney and David Spade, Sarah Silverman, Ed Helms, and many more. You don't want to miss it. Listen to Everybody knows your name with me, Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson sometimes.

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[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

All right, we are back. Cheers, mates. Cheers to you, Colonel. Onward and upward.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

Cheers to you, Captain. Power to the people. Cheers to the people in the back.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

1. A quick reminder, we will be at Crimecon in Nashville and if you want to see us, make sure. God willing, make sure you use our promo code. T C will also be@CrimeCon UK. Same promo code TCG. Join us in Nashville or in the UK.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

Nay join us in both Nashville and the UK.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Yay.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

In 2022, Chicago Police Department homicide detective Will Savlar, I believe is how you pronounce his name.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Will Savlar.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

Savlar spoke with NBC 5 Investigates. He told the investigative news team that he believes Kiera was not alive for long after the handoff of the $400 cash. So this is hearing it right from the mouth of a detective. Right from the horse's mouth, that there. How dare you speak of detective Will Savlar. Maybe that's an upgrade, who knows? Handoff of the $400 cash. So they seem to have reason to believe that she gets this money from the atm, hands it off to the person of interest. He specified that the person of interest is not a stranger. In this talk with NBC 5, he said that this person of interest has regular access to the apartment. But the fact that he came back to the residence after Kiera was last seen was significant. And the good detective goes on to say in the totality of, of what happened the night before, that's a big deal. Note that CPD refers to this person only simply as a person of interest repeatedly and never uses this person's name. They have never confirmed that Josh is or was the person of interest seen on the video with Kiera heading out on Tuesday night and then parking her car on Wednesday alone. Right, but everyone knows that it was Josh that they are referring to. Remember that a couple of years earlier police had said that they had two or three people of interest and a good idea of what may have happened to Kiera. Two or three people, Captain. So Josh and who?

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

But I just want to point out that it seems like law enforcement is like, well, we have video footage of Kiera going into her apartment and then who follows behind her? Josh. And then they leave and they take Chiaro's car and who does she leave with? Josh. But then when they start talking about these other movements, they never confirm that it's Josh. It's very strange.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

Well, and you know, this is something that we should have talked in great detail with Williams about, but again it's, this is a whole different state, we're in Ohio, so I don't know that it, that it's the same everywhere. But you would think the United Postal Service is a pretty uniform outfit. So you would think what, whatever goes on here probably is going on in other states. But the reason why I'm really honing in on this police statement that where they say time and time again we've narrowed it down to two or three people of persons of interest. So we, everybody, John Q. Public out there and John Q. Garage out there, they all believe that they're seeing Josh Simmons on that footage that was finally put out by police. So if they're saying we've narrowed it down to two or three people, so it's Josh and who do they have reason to believe that he had an accomplice. And the reason why I'm kind of circling around this little detail like a, like some kind of hungry vulture here is that if, if you have to not only punch in codes and whatnot when you're calling off, but also give some kind of voice. Well, we do know, we have reason to believe there's information out there that says suggest that the other woman involved in this love triangle, Kiera, who, no, this is weird too, was also pregnant at the time. But there's information out there that tells us that she worked for the Postal Service as well.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Right.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

So is she the one that calls off for our missing person? Does she punch in the codes and have to give voice, a woman's voice and call off for her?

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Well, it makes a lot of sense. And guess who's missing? Josh, Mia and Kiara.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

He's like, you got a missing persons investigation on my long term girlfriend. He gave him the old smell you later and went down to Louisiana.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Yes, smell you later, losers.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

So In March of 2023, finally we're in. This year, captain current year, Kiera's family announced yet another increase in the reward. Somebody out there, if they know something, speak up because you stand to make a whole lot of money here. This is $63,000 that they announced or.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Just do the right thing, be a good person, donate the money to charity.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

If you had any reason to be quiet before, $63,000 might make up for those reasons. So they, they held another birthday party for their, their missing daughter. This in September of 2023. And they stated, quote, as the years go on, it gets harder and harder. Definitely with the police not doing what they're supposed to do, it makes it even harder. Karen told CBS News we should note here, Captain, that a NAMUS profile, the website namus, if you go there, there is a NAMUS profile that was created for our missing person, Kiara. This was created in 2019. And on that profile it states that she has a tattoo of a heart on her right wrist, a jaguar on her shoulder, and a tattoo reading lucky Libra on her back. So some identifying marks there.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

I think it's pronounced Jack, you are.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

She would be 31 years old today. So very sad here. Very young woman here with her whole life ahead of her and she had everything in place. She had worked hard to put everything in place, to have a successful life. And not only would she be 31 years old today, her baby would be 4 years old.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Yeah, well, like Karen says, it's frustrating. I couldn't imagine being the mother of a victim and it just not getting the traction. And we've seen this for years, I mean the cases we covered. But sometimes it's just because there's not enough information or there's not a fascinating twist or turn or we don't have any video footage. This case has all those. This case should have been talked about more, but sometimes it's only five years old. Yeah, but again, sometimes a bigger, more juicy story, the sexier story comes out and then cases don't get the coverage they deserve.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

Well, we covered a case just a couple weeks ago here in the garage that was 20 years old. It was at the 20 year marker for a missing loved one. And oddly enough, the person of interest in that case moved to Louisiana as well. I love the state of Louisiana. I love New Orleans. But it seems like lately from the garage we got a lot of persons of interest fleeting fleeing to that state. And. But I bring that up only because to compare this five year old case with the 20 year old case. Remember in that one, the family, after getting no answers and not being able to give a proper burial to their daughter, are so broken and beaten down after 20 years. Remember the father said, like I don't even blame the guy anymore. I don't even really care. I don't even know if he should go to prison anymore. Maybe it was just an accident. I just want to know what happened and where my daughter is.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Right.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

So that's what the time will do to these people, to these victims.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Yeah, they start grabbing at straws, willing to settle just so they can bury their loved one.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

So I'm hoping here, Captain, and we're not the first ones to bring this up, but there's some startling parallels to another case. And I'm hoping that this case and where this case is today may offer some form of hope to Kira's family and that maybe that justice is on its way. So this case is Akia Egleston. So in May of 2017, Akia, she's eight months pregnant at this time. She failed to show up for her own baby shower. She's 22 years old at the time. Attractive, vivacious young black woman with everything going for just like who we've been talking about for the past two days, Kiera, she already had a little girl who she adored. Her Facebook post in communications with family members ended abruptly on May 3. Some of the information says, literally in the middle of a conversation with a friend just stops dead air. It took a few days before the family reported her missing. Just like in Kiera's case. And in fact, in a lot of missing persons cases, especially when the missing person is an adult. But Akia was pregnant with her boyfriend's baby. His name is Michael Robertson. He was the last person to see her alive. Again, startling parallels to Kiera's case. This from CBS News. Akia was last seen withdrawing money from a BB&T bank in downtown Baltimore to put a down payment on a new home she planned to share with her boyfriend, Michael Robertson. She was last seen taking cash out of an atm, just like Kiera. And then this. Robertson's cousin also told the court that Eagleston had had confided in her about physical attacks by Robertson's other baby mother. Her name is Hannah Pomeroy. Just two weeks before she disappeared, I guess there was some kind of altercation that was known about Robertson and this other woman. They move out of state as well. They go to Michigan. Just within a couple of months of Akia disappearing, Akia's family took it upon themselves to keep her case in the media, just like Karen is doing and the family's doing and keep the case in the media in the spotlight. And also conducted their own search throughout Baltimore, looking in abandoned buildings, behind structures and wooded areas, just like what we know Kiera's dad did right and continues to do. A Kia's body was never found. Neither was her baby. The baby's father, Michael Robertson, did some suspicious things that drew the the Old cold eye drew the old eye of suspicion. Yeah, old red flag from the family. And got the attention of Baltimore police. So he searched on his computer or phone for dumpster and trash collection schedules and landfill locations in the city dozens of times.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Oh, God.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

So either he's really concerned about trash or he's looking to conceal something.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Well, he was trash.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

So he lied about needing money for their apartment there turns out there was no apartment. No preparations had been made to buy or rent a home or an apartment for them. This was just something that he was leading this young woman on. Evidence on his cell phone tracked his movements to akia's apartment on May 3rd. So this proved inconsistencies in his statements with police. He was interviewed three times by police. And in his statements they evolved, according to police. Then he admitted that he did see her and then argued because it said that they argued because she wanted him to choose between her and the other woman. Well, police were unable, unfortunately, to find a kia. But they believe that Robertson killed her in her home and put her in a dumpster. According to the Baltimore sun, using information from Robertson's phone, they traced the trash route from the dumpsters outside of the apartment to a Northern Virginia landfill. Engineers narrowed in on 20 acres of landfill that were filled with 500,000 tons of compacted municipal waste filled 40ft deep within the three month window around her disappearance. But they weren't able to dig. There's some kind of safety regulations that prohibit excavating more than four feet down of landfill in this area. It took four and a half years, Captain, but Baltimore police and the FBI put together a circumstantial no body case against Robertson. He was arrested and charged with two counts of murder in February of 2022. In July of 2023, a Baltimore jury found Robertson guilty of two counts of first degree premeditated murder. And the jury deliberated for just two hours so he was found guilty. Robertson appears to be even more of a captain term piece of shit than Josh.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

He was a piece of shit.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

Or maybe just not as smart because he didn't get away with it. And Josh is down in Louisiana. Might even be having a good time for all we know.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

He's. He's looking over his shoulder.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

It seems that if Josh had any kind of cell phone or GPS or video trail that he might have been arrested by now. That's what I'm hoping anyway, right? If not, those are avenues that need to be pursued. And this case should not be suspended. If you have avenues to pursue, which I. I Think they do. I think there's some meat on the bone here. And I just don't like the, the status of suspended on this case.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

No. And you wonder if that's like, is that a decoy to maybe have people relax a little bit and we can gather information and put together a better case. I would hope that's the case, but who knows? But see, what I want to know is did they collect DNA evidence from the car and are they able to connect that to Josh's other girlfriend? And I think police at some point, correct me if I'm wrong, but they made a statement to the fact of, oh, well, we had a suspect, but we don't believe that he had any motive for murder. Well, when you're dating two people and they're both pregnant, there could be a motive for murder.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

Yeah. And I want to speak to Kiara for a minute. Not Kiara or missing person to Kiara, the other woman who it's believed is living down in Louisiana with Josh and.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Their kids, which might have been involved in this murder and cover up.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

Correct. But also may not have been involved at all. If you know some information about this and now this dude's out running around on you again, go get that $63,000 and give the police the evidence that they need to recover this young woman's remains and build a case against Josh.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Yeah. This is why Kira's mother, Karen is so correct. You need to shine light and bring attention to these cases. It puts pressure on law enforcement to do their job, but it also puts pressure on eyewitnesses to come forward. It puts pressure on Josh, it puts pressure on Josh's current girlfriend to come forward with information. The more people are talking about it, the more people start realizing this ain't going to go away. And so you share these cases on social media. You tell your friends and family about these cases. And could you imagine if you're Josh and you're sitting and you moved away to try to get away from all this and it starts becoming more national news, Then you have an individual that's getting scared. He's looking over his shoulder, he starts wondering about all the mistakes he made and something, somewhere out there, something's going to catch up to him. Like you said, it could be his girlfriend sitting around going, well, this guy, I'm still not enough in his eyes. I've had three children by this guy and I'm still not enough because he keeps running around on me. And maybe you were involved in the murder, maybe you were involved in the COVID up, but Police, I'm sure would still be willing to make a deal with you. And then he could get his. And make no mistake about it, this guy's a piece of shit. He dated her for six years and he didn't search for her, he didn't put up flyers, he didn't knock on doors, he lied to the family, he lied to law enforcement, he changed his story. He basically said, hey, I didn't see her on the second. And then we have video footage and guess who's in that video footage.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

Everybody believes it's him, Josh Simmons.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

And then on top of that you have your pregnant girlfriend. Then go withdraw money. $400. What do you need that $400 for? This person is not answering questions. Lawyered up, moves out of state, doesn't know anything. I mean, he's a real piece of shit.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

We will certainly have images, photos of Kiera on our website and on social. But a great resource in this case for everybody out there in listener land is missingpersonscenter.org so if you search Kiara Kohl's on that website, you're going to see a bunch of different photographs of Kira. You're also going to get some of the news updates that they had throughout the years. But more importantly, you're going to get links to the videos that came out, right, the ATM video. You're going to get links to the other videos and to links to seeing her mother, Karen, speaking so passionately about her daughter in trying to find her daughter. The website, according to the website, if you have any information, you are encouraged to contact the Chicago Police Department or. This is a unique scenario here, Captain. We don't get this every week, but one outfit that you can get in touch with in this case would be the U.S. postal Inspection Service.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Right?

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

And you can, from my understanding, is that this is. They. They investigate all kinds of stuff, all kinds of different crimes, all kinds of different missing person stuff. So if it were me here and I had information, I would reach out to the U.S. postal Inspection Service. Their number is 877-876-245-587-78762455. The HBO I'm sorry, Max, or whatever we're going to call it these days. I feel like.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

I feel like HBO Max call it.

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

HBO man, because, well, it was HBO Max for a while. Now it's just Max. So there was an HBO documentary series called Black and Missing. It did feature a Kia's case that we talked about. Now, like Kiara's, it was noted that her case got a lot less attention than similar cases involving white women. Robertson's guilty verdict may provide a glimmer of hope for Kira's family that they may yet see justice for her. At some point. We can only hope that Chicago prosecutors and investigators are doggedly working to put together their case against Josh Simmons and he gets what's coming to him. But given that the investigation was suspended for a time, may still be suspended, and Chicago PD's less than lustrous record of solving cases where the victim is a missing black female, unfortunately, we're just not that optimistic.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Want to thank you so much for joining us here in the Grind. If you'd like to support the show, tell a friend or share a case on social media Colonel do we have a recommended reading for the beautiful, beautiful listeners this week?

[Host Nick (True Crime Garage)]

Captain we have a combo platter. We have a little recommended listening and a little recommended reading. I love when good people team up for the greater good. And so these are two things that we've recommended in the past. One is the Missing Persons Podcast. We have Mike Morford over there and Jessica Betancourt who have been great friends of our show for many years. They run the Missing Persons Podcast and do a fantastic job. And I just noticed that last week their guest was Bill Gilmore. He is Jennifer Kessie's uncle who wrote the book Aftermath that we have recommended in the past. So check out our good friends over at the Missing Persons Podcast and make sure you check out Bill Gilmore, his book about his missing niece, Jennifer Kessie. That's a very solvable case. We just need to put more people and more efforts in that regard. You can find those two great recommendations and many more on our website's recommended page, truecrime garage.com and while you're there.

[Captain (True Crime Garage)]

Sign up for the mailing list till next week. Be good, be kind and don't litter.

[Kiera Cole's Mother (Karen Phillips King)]

Sa.

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