Phoenix Coldon

On December 18, 2011, twenty-three-year-old Phoenix Coldon, a recent college graduate, was sitting in her car in the driveway of her parents' home in Spanish Lake, an unincorporated community in north St. Louis County, Missouri. Her father noticed her sitting in the car but thought nothing of it. When he looked again, both Phoenix and the car were gone.

Three days later, Phoenix's car, a 1998 Chevy Blazer, was found abandoned near East St. Louis, Illinois, with the engine still running and the driver's side door open. Her cell phone, wallet, and other personal items were not in the vehicle. The area where the car was found was known for high crime rates.

The investigation into Phoenix's disappearance was hampered by jurisdictional issues between Missouri and Illinois law enforcement. Her family was critical of the initial police response, saying their daughter's case received less attention because she was a young Black woman. The case became an example in broader discussions about the 'missing white woman syndrome' in media coverage of missing persons.

Phoenix's parents, Goldia and Lawrence Coldon, have conducted their own extensive search for their daughter, distributing flyers, canvassing neighborhoods, and following up on tips. Despite their efforts and periodic renewed investigation, Phoenix Coldon has never been found.