What Happened to Sacoya Cooper? Missing Transgender Woman Vanished in August, Family Is Searching for Answers

Sacoya Cooper disappeared on Aug. 31 after taking a trip to the store.
The family of a transgender woman who is missing in Ohio are reaching out for help. Sacoya Cooper, 33, was last seen Aug. 31 in a Black Ford Fusion around 11:30 p.m., according to reports. Her friends and family told The Columbus Dispatch that Sacoya left to go to the store, but she reportedly never made it there. Her family also said it’s not like her to just disappear and that her cell phone has been turned off.
Her family have been putting up flyers and working with the Columbus Division of Police to try and get answers. She is described as 5 feet, 5 inches, 145 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair in lemonade braids.
Columbus police Deputy Chief Tim Becker told the paper that a detective has been assigned to Sacoya's case, and they haven’t uncovered any evidence of foul play thus far.
Charlie Stewart, an organizer with the Black Queer & Intersectional Collective (BQIC), an organization that is helping search for answers in Sacoya’s case as well, said there were a lot of missteps taken in the case, including that Sacoya wasn’t added to the national missing person database until Sept 22.
"It's unfortunate that there were a lot of missteps taken, but that seems to be a repeated song for our community," said Stewart. “…Black trans women are subjected to so much violence...Every second that she's away from her home is being away from safety.”
In the wake of Gabby Petito's disappearance and how much media attention the case received, BQIC and those in the LGBTQ+ community are questioning why Sacoya’s case isn’t getting the same attention.
"It's getting to a point now where the family is having little hope each day, and that's really breaking my heart,” Stewart told The Columbus Dispatch.
Anyone with information about Sacoya's whereabouts can contact her family at 614-797-3388 or 419-276-3445, or call the Columbus Police Missing Persons Unit at 614-645-2358.
Related Stories
Trending on Inside Edition

New York Grand Jury in Trump Criminal Probe Gets Day Off, Indictment Wait Continues
Crime
Will Bryan Kohberger Face Firing Squad if Convicted, Sentenced to Death? New Idaho Bill May Make It Possible
Crime
Former 'Baywatch' Star Alexandra Paul Found Not Guilty of Stealing Chickens From Poultry Truck
Entertainment
Suspect Returns to Scene of Domestic Violence Assault and Is Killed by Victim’s Father
Crime
LA Meteorologist Who Fainted on Live TV Says She Didn't Eat Breakfast and Was Dehydrated
Health