She Planned To Travel From Illinois To Iowa To Care For Her Hospitalized Mother In 2021, But She Never Arrived And Has Been Missing Ever Since
Born on November 16, 1981, Sheena Louise Gibbs grew up in rural Muscatine, Iowa, before later relocating to Chicago, Illinois.
There, she graduated from The Graduate School at Northwestern University in Evanston and went on to become a home health aide. Sheena is also a cancer survivor who, despite battling her own struggles, loved helping other people and was a social justice activist.
“Sheena is a go-getter. She’s very strong-willed and positive,” said her aunt, Lela Tarver.
Most recently, in 2021, 40-year-old Sheena had been working at the University of Illinois Chicago – performing COVID-19 test scheduling.
She was also living in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago with her boyfriend and was known by her loved ones to be a very outgoing and bubbly person who adored dancing.
Yet, on November 3, 2021, Sheena mysteriously disappeared, and her family has been left reeling ever since.
That day, she’d reportedly been in touch with her cousin, Chris Dixon, and planned to travel to Davenport, Iowa, in order to care for her mother – who had been hospitalized. Sheena had power of attorney over her mother’s healthcare and told her family that she’d be arriving to care for her mom on November 4, 2021.
However, Sheena never showed up, and her family is still searching for answers as to why. Leading up to her disappearance, she was reportedly in close contact with her loved ones.
“Before her disappearance, she was in regular contact with family, and we have not heard anything since then. So, it’s obviously very disturbing. We are very, very concerned,” Chris explained.
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According to authorities, Sheena was last seen near the corner of West Greenleaf Avenue and North Sheridan Road, located in her neighborhood of Rogers Park.
When she failed to arrive in Davenport, Sheena’s family members also began trying to contact her. But all of their phone calls went straight to voicemail.
Sheena also typically traveled to care for her mother in Iowa via bus. However, authorities found no evidence of a bus ticket being purchased in her name or that she ever got on a bus leaving Chicago.
During the initial investigation of her disappearance, investigators claimed Sheena’s case was “habitual missing.” But, her case was then re-classified as a “high risk” missing person, meaning the circumstances surrounding her disappearance suggest she may be at risk of injury or death.
According to Sheena’s aunt, Lela, it’s tough not to think the worst.
“Some of the things that go through my mind, I don’t even want to speak out loud because I just want to hope and pray that she’s safe somewhere,” Lela said.
Still, while foul play is suspected in her disappearance, authorities have not identified any suspects or named any persons of interest in her case.
So, Sheena’s loved ones have continued raising awareness of her case and pleading for anyone in the community with information to come forward.
“I think there may be that one needle in a haystack that can come forward with information. I believe someone has seen her and can say we saw her at this location or something. She just did not just fall off the radar,” Lela stated.
“I just ask people to think about if it was your loved one, what would you do? You want somebody to come forward with information, and so that’s just what we’re asking people to do the same for us,” added Chris.
Sheena is five foot nine, weighs 180 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. It is unknown what she was wearing at the time of her disappearance.
There is currently a $1,000 reward being offered for information regarding Sheena’s whereabouts. If you have any information regarding her case, you are urged to contact the Chicago Police Department at (312) 744-8266.
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