Baltimore Woman Disappears Before Her Own Baby Shower, Watch Her Story

In May 2017, Akia Eggleston, a 22-year-old Baltimore woman, vanished just days before her baby shower. Her excited friends and family eagerly gathered to celebrate her pregnancy, but she never arrived. Eggleston’s sudden disappearance sparked a years-long investigation, culminating in answers six years later. The story of Akia’s disappearance is explored in an emotional new episode of Dateline airing Friday, September 13, on NBC.

A Missing Mother-to-Be

Eggleston, who was eight months pregnant at the time of her disappearance, had been eagerly awaiting her baby shower. Her loved ones recall her excitement, with close friend Stephen Foster telling Dateline, “She couldn’t wait for the baby shower. She was ecstatic.” When the young mother didn’t show up to the celebration, alarm bells immediately went off. “I started getting phone calls: ‘Where’s Akia? Where’s Akia?'” Foster said. Eggleston’s absence was not just unusual—it was completely out of character, especially given her advanced pregnancy. Soon after, Eggleston’s face appeared on missing persons posters throughout Baltimore, and her family launched a desperate search for answers. “She was eight months pregnant, so to just disappear on her own — highly unlikely,” said Detective Jill Beauregard of the Baltimore Police Department.

A Chilling Mystery Unfolds

As investigators began piecing together the timeline of Eggleston’s final days, they uncovered startling details unknown even to her family. The Dateline episode, titled “The Day Akia Disappeared,” sheds light on these revelations and the mystery surrounding her case. According to correspondent Josh Mankiewicz, the case serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of open communication within families. “Don’t be afraid to tell your family what’s going on in your life,” he advised. “That proved critical in this story.”

The investigation into Eggleston’s disappearance dragged on for years, with many leads ultimately turning cold. Her family, determined to keep her case in the public eye, worked closely with the Black and Missing Foundation, founded by Derrica and Natalie Wilson, to maintain media attention and community support.

Despite the long road to justice, Eggleston’s loved ones never gave up hope. Foster recalls holding on to the belief that she might still be alive, saying, “I just had hope that if she’s out there still, she’s just waiting for somebody to come save her.”

Justice Delayed, but Answers Arrive

In 2023, after six years of uncertainty, investigators finally made a breakthrough, providing Eggleston’s family with some long-awaited answers. However, Mankiewicz noted the frustration of justice delayed. “It’s always surprising when justice takes this long to arrive,” he said, reflecting on the agonizing wait since 2017.

Despite the resolution, the emotional toll remains. “It’s a loss no one ever recovers from,” Mankiewicz said, emphasizing the pain experienced by families of missing persons. “Justice is better than nothing, but it doesn’t come with grandchildren.” The Dateline episode delves into the emotional and investigative journey behind Eggleston’s disappearance. To learn more, viewers can watch the episode on NBC or stream it on Peacock the following day.