The U.S. Postal Service has long helped get out the word on missing children by displaying posters on its bulletin boards and on its website. Right now, it's also searching for one of its own, a letter carrier from Chicago.
Kierra Coles, then 26, headed out of her South Side home on Oct. 2 and hasn't been heard from since. Coles was three months pregnant, with a due date of April 23. As that date passed recently, her family members sought to keep her case in the spotlight _ their best hope for eliciting tips that might help find her.
Coles didn't disappear while serving her route, but postal workers, 40 percent of whom are women, walk Chicago's streets on behalf of all citizens. They are easy to spot, with their uniforms and mail bags, and keep predictable hours. They become expected, friendly sights in neighborhoods. Reports say Coles was active on social media and talked to family daily, and fellow postal workers rang doorbells on her behalf in earlier searches.
Leads on Coles are drying up. There's now more than $45,000 in reward money on offer for information leading to her from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Chicago branch of the National Association for Letter Carriers and private donors.
"We need the community to remain involved. The call volume has started to be low," says community activist Andrew Holmes. "We've been searching, but now we need anyone who has been holding onto information _ no matter how small of a clue they have _ we need them to call in."
Coles' purse, lunch bag and cellphone were found in her car, which remained parked outside her home. She was described as 5 feet 4 and about 125 pounds, black, with brown eyes, black hair and a medium brown complexion, Chicago police say.
Her family joined with that of another missing pregnant woman to draw attention to their cases over the weekend. Marlen Ochoa-Uriostegui, 19, of Pilsen, was last seen leaving her high school two weeks ago. Her due date was last Sunday, relatives have said. She is married and has a 3-year-old son.
A third woman, Chaunti Bryla, who has an 11-year-old son, has been missing for about three weeks, police say.
There's no evidence these cases are connected by anything but the shared distress of their families. But in each of them, the public has a role to play. Neighbors or witnesses can help find closure for loved ones or bring justice in the event of foul play.
In the case of Coles, this is a chance for all of us to support the familiar neighborhood figures who brave blizzards, barking dogs and other hazards every day to reach their mailboxes. Those who serve the public good play a special role in our communities. Step up, Chicagoans, if you can help find her or the other missing women.
