The search for a mother from Indiana who went missing a week ago continued on Sunday, after a “false alarm” was raised when a “lifelike mannequin” was found.
Ariana Taylor, 23, mother to a 4-year-old son, was last seen late on Saturday night on April 2, in Gary, Indiana.
On Sunday, a Northern Indiana Public Service Company (Nipsco) worker reported that they found a “body” in a grassy area near Lake Street in Gary.
Gary Police Department
But while Taylor’s family held their breath, police told ABC 7 later that it was “false alarm” and it was actually “‘lifelike mannequin.”
“The body located earlier today, once it was able to be uncovered, was determined to me a life-sized silicone/rubber type female doll,” Gary police said, ABC 7 reported.
Police could not at first recognize a mannequin as there was a sheet over it and they could not remove it until a coroner arrived, the local news channel reported.
The discovery was found only a few miles away from where Taylor’s vehicle was found crashed on April 3. Gary officers found that the SUV had left I-65 and crashed below.
“Had to be doing 80-plus mile per hour,” Gary Police Commander Jack Hamady told ABC7 Chicago after the vehicle was discovered. “It did not look like that individual used the brakes at all. Went down into a ravine and came to a stop, and had flat tires. Was she being chased? Was she just intoxicated? We’re not sure.”
As the car was found empty, investigators said they could not be sure that Taylor was driving the car.
Taylor was then reported missing to the Gary Police Department on April 4. Officer foot searches, K-9 searches, helicopter, ATV and dive searches have been conducted with no results, a police statement said. Local hospitals were also contacted, at the prospect of one of them treating Taylor for injuries, also with no results.
The incident is being investigated as a hit-and-run.
Queena Taylor, Ariana’s mother, told the ABC7 Chicago that she suspects there was foul play.
Taylor’s friends and family have formed a search party and volunteers are now helping with the search efforts for her.
Police describe Taylor as approximately 5’6″ tall and 200 pounds. She was last seen wearing a red sweater, ripped blue jeans and gym shoes. Anyone with information on her location has been asked to contact Detective Sergeant Mark Salazar at 219-881-1209, the Crime Tip Line at 866-CRIME-GP or 911.
Newsweek has contacted Gary police for comment.
The search for a mother from Indiana who went missing a week ago continued on Sunday, after a “false alarm” was raised when a “lifelike mannequin” was found.Ariana Taylor, 23, mother to a 4-year-old son, was last seen late on Saturday night on April 2, in Gary, Indiana.On Sunday, a Northern Indiana Public Service Company (Nipsco) worker reported that they found a “body” in a grassy area near Lake Street in Gary. An image from Gary Police Department of Ariana Taylor, 23, who was reported missing on April 4. Gary Police Department But while Taylor’s family held their breath, police told ABC 7 later that it was “false alarm” and it was actually “‘lifelike mannequin.””The body located earlier today, once it was able to be uncovered, was determined to me a life-sized silicone/rubber type female doll,” Gary police said, ABC 7 reported.Police could not at first recognize a mannequin as there was a sheet over it and they could not remove it until a coroner arrived, the local news channel reported.The discovery was found only a few miles away from where Taylor’s vehicle was found crashed on April 3. Gary officers found that the SUV had left I-65 and crashed below.”Had to be doing 80-plus mile per hour,” Gary Police Commander Jack Hamady told ABC7 Chicago after the vehicle was discovered. “It did not look like that individual used the brakes at all. Went down into a ravine and came to a stop, and had flat tires. Was she being chased? Was she just intoxicated? We’re not sure.” As the car was found empty, investigators said they could not be sure that Taylor was driving the car.Taylor was then reported missing to the Gary Police Department on April 4. Officer foot searches, K-9 searches, helicopter, ATV and dive searches have been conducted with no results, a police statement said. Local hospitals were also contacted, at the prospect of one of them treating Taylor for injuries, also with no results.The incident is being investigated as a hit-and-run.Queena Taylor, Ariana’s mother, told the ABC7 Chicago that she suspects there was foul play.Taylor’s friends and family have formed a search party and volunteers are now helping with the search efforts for her.Police describe Taylor as approximately 5’6″ tall and 200 pounds. She was last seen wearing a red sweater, ripped blue jeans and gym shoes. Anyone with information on her location has been asked to contact Detective Sergeant Mark Salazar at 219-881-1209, the Crime Tip Line at 866-CRIME-GP or 911.Newsweek has contacted Gary police for comment.