MEMPHIS, Tenessee – A Tennessee family is seeking answers following the mysterious disappearance of a 21-year-old mother of two, Tamia Taylor, during a ‘booze cruise’ on the Mississippi River last Saturday. Taylor was last seen boarding the Island Queen, a two-hour cruise operated by Memphis Riverboats, around 11:30 p.m. on September 9, as per a statement from the Memphis Police Department.
Taylor was celebrating her birthday with two friends who reportedly disembarked safely but did not witness Taylor exit the boat. Debra Taylor, the missing woman’s mother, expressed her confusion and concern over the circumstances of her daughter’s disappearance. She recounted a narrative from one of Tamia’s friends, who claimed that Tamia had left her phone behind to use the restroom on the second floor of the boat. The friends picked up her phone and waited for her, but eventually left without her.
Debra Taylor, who resides in Covington, drove to Memphis the following day to file a missing persons report when her daughter failed to return home and could not be contacted. The Memphis Police Department has since been investigating Tamia’s whereabouts, including the possibility of her falling overboard, but all potential scenarios are being considered.
In their search for Tamia, the police have deployed boats and aircraft to scour the river. The Memphis Riverboats company, in a statement, expressed sympathy for Tamia’s family and friends, but stated they have no reason to believe she could have gone overboard. They confirmed from available footage that Tamia was last seen on the boat as it was docking at the Harbor.
Tamia Taylor is described as being 5 feet 7 inches tall. She was last seen wearing a beige shirt, white shorts, a black jacket, and white shoes. The Memphis Police Department is urging anyone who was on the cruise to come forward with any information.