The Day Akia Disappeared
Digest
This episode of Dateline focuses on the disappearance of Akia Egleston, a 22-year-old pregnant woman who vanished days before her baby shower. Akia's family and friends were devastated by her disappearance and searched for her, but she was nowhere to be found. Baltimore police began investigating Akia's disappearance, interviewing her friends and family, and searching her home and the surrounding area. The investigation quickly focused on Akia's boyfriend, Michael Robertson, who was a person of interest. He told police that he and Akia had broken up days before she disappeared, but investigators found evidence that suggested foul play. They used cell phone records to track the movements of Michael Robertson, his other girlfriend Hailey Pomeroy, and Akia's best friend Stefan Foster on the day Akia disappeared. Michael Robertson eventually confessed to fighting with Akia on the day she disappeared, claiming he left her apartment after the fight and hadn't seen her since. He was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one for Akia and one for her unborn son. After a three-and-a-half-week trial, Michael Robertson was found guilty on both counts. This case highlights the importance of digital evidence in criminal investigations and raises awareness about the issue of missing persons of color. Akia Egleston's family continues to grieve her loss, hoping her story will help other families dealing with the disappearance of a loved one.
Outlines
Akia's Disappearance and the Investigation
This episode of Dateline focuses on the disappearance of Akia Egleston, a 22-year-old pregnant woman who vanished days before her baby shower. Akia's family and friends were devastated by her disappearance and searched for her, but she was nowhere to be found. Baltimore police began investigating Akia's disappearance, interviewing her friends and family, and searching her home and the surrounding area.
The Love Triangle and Suspects
The investigation quickly focused on Akia's boyfriend, Michael Robertson, who was a person of interest. He told police that he and Akia had broken up days before she disappeared, but investigators found evidence that suggested foul play. They used cell phone records to track the movements of Michael Robertson, his other girlfriend Hailey Pomeroy, and Akia's best friend Stefan Foster on the day Akia disappeared.
Michael Robertson's Confession and Trial
Michael Robertson eventually confessed to fighting with Akia on the day she disappeared, claiming he left her apartment after the fight and hadn't seen her since. He was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one for Akia and one for her unborn son. After a three-and-a-half-week trial, Michael Robertson was found guilty on both counts.
Akia's Legacy and the Importance of Digital Evidence
This case highlights the importance of digital evidence in criminal investigations and raises awareness about the issue of missing persons of color. Akia Egleston's family continues to grieve her loss, hoping her story will help other families dealing with the disappearance of a loved one.
Keywords
Missing Person Case
A missing person case is an investigation into the disappearance of a person. These cases can be complex and often involve a variety of investigative techniques.
Love Triangle
A love triangle is a romantic relationship involving three people. Love triangles can be a source of conflict and drama, and they can sometimes lead to tragic consequences.
Digital Evidence
Digital evidence is any information that is stored electronically. This can include emails, text messages, social media posts, and phone records. Digital evidence can be a valuable tool in criminal investigations.
Cell Phone Tracking
Cell phone tracking is a technique that uses cell phone signals to track the location of a phone. This technology can be used to help investigators locate missing persons or to track the movements of suspects.
No Body Case
A no body case is a criminal investigation where the body of the victim has not been found. These cases can be very difficult to solve, as there is often less evidence available.
Black and Missing Foundation
The Black and Missing Foundation is a non-profit organization that works to bring awareness to missing persons of color. The foundation provides support to families of missing persons and advocates for changes in law enforcement practices.
Q&A
What happened to Akia Egleston?
Akia Egleston disappeared days before her baby shower. Her boyfriend, Michael Robertson, was convicted of her murder.
How did investigators find out what happened to Akia?
Investigators used cell phone records to track the movements of Michael Robertson, Hailey Pomeroy, and Stefan Foster on the day Akia disappeared. They also found evidence that suggested foul play.
What was the motive for Akia's murder?
Michael Robertson confessed to fighting with Akia on the day she disappeared. He said that he had left her apartment after the fight and had not seen her since.
What was the biggest challenge for investigators in this case?
The biggest challenge for investigators was that Akia's body was never found. This made it difficult to prove that she had been murdered.
What is the legacy of Akia Egleston's case?
Akia Egleston's case highlights the importance of digital evidence in criminal investigations. It also raises awareness about the issue of missing persons of color.
Show Notes
When a woman who is eight months pregnant vanishes before her own baby shower, her family begins a desperate search. As detectives struggle to unravel the chilling mystery, they wonder: is it a missing persons case, or something far more sinister? Josh Mankiewicz reports.
Listen to Josh Mankiewicz and Keith Morrison as they go behind the scenes of the making of this episode in ‘Talking Dateline’: https://link.chtbl.com/tdl_akiadisappeared
Did anyone else hear him say "the day Akia disappeared" and check to make sure they weren't listening to a podcast on low level car theft? 😂