WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — 21-year-old Tamia Taylor was missing for around three weeks after taking a Memphis Riverboats ride. Her body was found in the Mississippi River on Saturday, Sept. 23.
During the search, the family of Tamia Taylor received support from the Dock Ellis Foundation.
“Until there has been any confirmation, we have to continue the search effort,” said Jasmine Ellis, Dock Ellis Foundation CEO.
The non-profit, focused on helping families of missing minority women, said the news of the body recovery on the Arkansas side of the Mississippi River was traumatic for Taylor’s family.
Tamia went missing from a Memphis Riverboat for her 21st birthday September 9.
On Monday, Crittenden County confirmed the body belonged to a female and an autopsy to provide further details was underway.
Following this announcement, the Dock Ellis Foundation sent ABC24 the following statement:
“The Dock Ellis Foundation will continue to follow up on information, We are aware the body in the river is a female. This is very traumatic to Tamia Taylor's family, they are still standing on faith and ask that the community do the same. Please allow Crittenden County and MPD the time needed to identify the body. We are asking that you rely on reliable sources for any information pertaining to Tamia Taylor.
Again we are asking for the community to continue search efforts and bringing awareness.”
Unfortunately, the body was confirmed to be Taylor on Sept. 26. The Crittenden County Coroner confirmed her cause of death was drowning.
"We are truly heartbroken by the identification of Tamia Taylor," said a statement from the Dock Ellis Foundation. "Debra Taylor and her family are truly grateful for your thoughts and prayers. Dock Ellis Foundation is asking everyone to please allow the family time to heal. We will carry Tamia Taylor in our hearts."
According to the non-profit, Tennessee is in the top ten states with the most missing people. We reached out to the Memphis Police department to see its current missing person city watches; however, an answer has not been given at this time.
ABC24 consulted its own records, since beginning tracking in 2022, there are still over 40 city watch alerts for missing women in the Greater Memphis area at the time Taylor was missing.
In July, Memphis Police told ABC24 the department had cleared over 540 missing person cases, a 94% clearance rate overall up to that time in 2023.