CHARLOTTE — A northeast Charlotte community continues to search for answers nearly 13 years after 16-year-old Jamekia Sabb vanished from her home.
Sabb was last seen on Nov. 22, 2013, on Donna Drive, and no one has seen or heard from her since.
Police initially believed Sabb left her home voluntarily as a runaway. However, years without contact have left her loved ones desperate for closure regarding her whereabouts.
In response to the unresolved case, Sabb’s close friend Destiny Brown created the “Missing in Charlotte” initiative across social media to advocate for missing persons and support searching families.
On the day she disappeared, Sabb was wearing army fatigue pants, white Nike shoes, and a sweater featuring the word “Kings” across the front. She has a shoulder tattoo featuring the word “Choppa” surrounded by stars.
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Brown recalled the shock among friends when news of the disappearance first spread. “Everybody’s eyes were big like, ‘What do you mean she’s missing?’” Brown said.
She added that the initial classification as a runaway made securing public attention difficult. “At the beginning it didn’t receive a lot of attention, especially because she was considered a runaway. A lot of us were frustrated because we felt like it wasn’t getting the light that it deserved,” Brown said.
Over the years, Brown has grappled with the painful possibility that foul play was involved in her friend’s disappearance.
“Unfortunately, my heart pulls toward that. My heart does. I hate to say it, but I do. I think something may have happened to Jamekia,” Brown said.
Despite her fears, Brown retains hope that Sabb might still be alive somewhere nearby. “She could still be out there; she could still be walking around, maybe in the outskirts of Charlotte,” Brown said.
To assist in search efforts, the organization Missing People in America created missing person posters to raise public awareness.
Additionally, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children produced an age-progression photograph depicting what Sabb might look like as an adult.
The unresolved disappearance inspired Brown to launch social media pages under the name “Missing in Charlotte” across Facebook, TikTok and Instagram.
Brown uses these platforms to support families navigating similar pain. “I want to be that voice for them. I wanna advocate for these people, these families and their loved ones,” Brown said.
She said her personal experience helps her connect with families in similar situations. “I tell them I can relate on a personal level. I have a friend who’s been missing for more than 13 years now,” Brown said.
Reflecting on her friend’s memory, Brown described how Sabb’s disappearance shaped her life’s purpose. “She definitely brought a fire in my back, in my body and in my heart and my soul to do this. I feel like it may have been part of my calling,” Brown said.
She expressed hope that the community will eventually find answers. “I pray that we get answers to at least coming to find her and giving her peace. Even if it’s a body we find, let us get peace,” Brown said.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department urges anyone with information regarding the disappearance of Sabb to contact law enforcement.