A 23-year-old Houston woman who is eight months pregnant has gone missing, and her family is terrified after receiving a strange text message and discovering her apartment left completely undisturbed, including her packed hospital bag.<\/p>\n
Ashanti Allen was last seen at her apartment complex on Main Street near NRG Stadium. Her family says they haven’t heard from her since last week, and those who know her say her disappearance is completely out of character, especially given that she is due next month and has had a complicated pregnancy, including episodes of fainting and needing a wheelchair at times.<\/p>\n
Her mother, Trisa Gaines, says the last contact she had from her daughter was a text in the early morning hours of April 10.<\/p>\n
“On April 10th around 3:50 that morning, a text sent to me: ‘I am leaving, not coming back.'”<\/p>\n
Gaines says she couldn’t make sense of what she was reading.<\/p>\n
“I didn’t believe that she sent that.”<\/p>\n
She added that the family had recently been focused on finding a bigger place to live to make room for the new baby.<\/p>\n
“We were just inquiring about the two bedrooms so the baby could have some room, stuff like that.”<\/p>\n
The next morning, things took an even more alarming turn when the family discovered the family vehicle was gone. When Gaines went to the apartment and got a key from management, she found that nothing had been taken.<\/p>\n
“All her stuff was there, baby clothes there, nothing was taken. The bag she packed for the hospital still sitting there.”<\/p>\n
Police say Ashanti was last seen in a white Lincoln SUV belonging to her mother. Gaines says she was able to track down the vehicle, but her daughter was not with the person driving it.<\/p>\n
“Where is my daughter and how did you get my vehicle?”<\/p>\n
Ashanti’s sister also spoke out, saying the family fears for her safety.<\/p>\n
“We feel like she is in danger. She is not safe. Wherever she is, we don’t feel like she’s able to be safe.”<\/p>\n
Gaines says she got no straight answers from the person found with the vehicle and contacted police. She has since recovered the car.<\/p>\n
Texas EquuSearch, a volunteer search and rescue organization, has now joined the effort to find Ashanti. Founder Tim Miller says investigators have found no clear answers so far.<\/p>\n
“No evidence of foul play and no evidence she left on her own.”<\/p>\n
Miller says teams are actively searching for Ashanti using ATVs and drones, though he acknowledged the situation is concerning.<\/p>\n
“Doesn’t look good.”<\/p>\n
Still, he expressed hope for a safe outcome.<\/p>\n
“Hope we can get her back alive. If something has happened, hope we can get her located.”<\/p>\n
Through it all, Ashanti’s mother has one simple plea for her daughter.<\/p>\n
“All we just want you to come home. If you are seeing this, all we want to know is you are ok.”<\/p>\n
Allen is described as a woman standing 5 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 150 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.<\/p>\n
Anyone with information about Allen’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Houston Police Department at (832) 394-1840 and ask for Det. Robau, referencing case number 0461666-26. Tips can also be submitted to Texas EquuSearch at (281) 309-9500 or by emailing info@texasequusearch.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n A $5,000 reward is being offered for information. Search crews are expected to be back out looking for her Tuesday.<\/p>\n