Unsolved Ohio: Columbus woman missing for 10 years after possible abduction

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ten years ago, Shaniece Briggs was seen for the last time when a neighbor reportedly saw her being pushed into a car near her Columbus home. Today, she remains missing, and her family is searching for closure.

“She was a good mother, she took care of her kids,” said Briggs’ mother, Melissa Williams. “She was just a loving person, always helped everybody even if she didn’t have it.”

Briggs was a 26-year-old mother of four living in the 900 block of East Long Street in the King-Lincoln Bronzeville neighborhood at the time of her disappearance. She has been missing since June 19, 2013, according to a Columbus police report. 

Briggs reportedly walked out of the back door of her house at about 1 a.m. Two female friends had recently dropped her off at home at an unspecified time, according to Williams. The door was left unlocked and her keys and purse were left behind. Her four young kids, all below the age of 7, also remained in the home – she never returned. 

"It’s just like she disappeared off the face of the earth," Williams said.

At 6 a.m., about five hours later, Williams said she received a call from Briggs’ children’s father, who asked if Briggs was with her. He said Briggs hadn’t been home and the kids were at the residence without her. Williams said she and the children’s father sprung into action and made missing persons flyers and searched the neighborhood. 

After the news of Briggs disappearance went public, a witness came forward saying that they saw Briggs being pushed into a black car parked near her home on the morning of her disappearance.

Now, 10 years have passed, and many questions have been left unanswered. Williams said she doesn’t feel this was a case of stranger abduction. 

““[There’s] a lot of things going on, human trafficking and all this stuff, but I don’t think that’s the case,” Williams said. “It’s somebody that she knew and that she was comfortable with.”

She also feels positive that Briggs did not leave on her own accord. 

“She loved her kids dearly,” Williams said. “She would’ve never left her kids. Ever.”

Briggs' children are now between the ages of 12 and 17. Williams said whatever happened on that day in 2013, her family, and especially Briggs’ children, need closure. 

“It’s time,” Williams said. “Like I said, you know, I ask god whatever it is just let me be okay with it, good or bad. I just want closure, that’s all I want. Me and this family and her babies, definitely, most definitely them. We just want to know. That’s it.”

A spokesperson with the Columbus police said there is no new information or updates regarding Briggs’ case. 

At the time of her disappearance, Briggs was 5 feet 5 with brown hair and brown eyes. She had a tattoo of a king with a crown on her left side and a piercing above the right corner of her upper lip. On the day she went missing, she was wearing black sweatpants and a pink and gray shirt. As of Thursday, she would be 36 years old.

Anyone with any information on the disappearance of Shaniece Briggs should contact the Columbus police at 614-645-4545 or the Central Ohio Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 614-461-8477.

If you’re a family member of an individual with an unsolved missing persons or homicide case in Ohio, reach out to aboldizar@wcmh.com.