In 2017, Akia Shawnta Eggleston lived in Cherry Hill, Baltimore. She was 22 years old, eight months pregnant, and expecting her second child. Akia was unable to drive or walk long distances at the time because her pregnancy was considered high-risk, as the baby was breech and she was on bed rest.
Akia Eggleston (The Vanished)
On May 3, 2017, an older friend (now deceased) drove Akia to a bank in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor neighborhood. Akia withdrew a total of $572, and it is suspected that the money was to pay the deposit for a new apartment she planned to move into with the father of her baby.
On May 7, a baby shower and gender reveal party had been planned for family and close friends. Akia had spent months planning the party and was looking forward to celebrating with everyone. But on the day of the party, Akia never showed up. Worried friends went to her apartment later, only to find that she wasn't there. They reported her missing the next day.
Akia Eggleston was captured on camera entering a bank to withdraw money (FOX Baltimore)
Akia's disappearance was suspicious to her family from the start. They knew she would never have left her 2-year-old daughter or family without saying anything. When police searched her apartment, it appeared she had moved out. Her bed was still there, but her dresser and all her clothes had been removed from the closet. Due to her condition, Akia's family believed it was physically impossible for her to move anything on her own. Police interviewed Akia's roommates and friends, but no one claimed to have helped her move.
There were no signs that any of us saw that she would just want to pack up and leave.Sanobia Wilson, aunt of Akia Eggleston (CBS Baltimore)
Cameras at her apartment complex were not working at the time, so nothing was captured. The father of Akia's unborn son was Michael Robertson, a family friend who had raised concerns with her family from the beginning. He never showed up to the baby shower, never contacted anyone when she disappeared, and never helped in the search efforts. He also had a girlfriend and multiple children at the time of her disappearance. Despite this, he was never named a person of interest by police.
After a vigil held in front of her apartment, while family and friends were cleaning up, they discovered Akia's bank card in a bush in front of her complex. The card appeared to be in good condition and had never been found by police during their initial search, leading friends and family to suspect it had been placed there afterward.
Four years later, Akia's family was still actively searching for answers. Baltimore police believed foul play was involved, and the case remained open and unsolved.
I don’t think her case was taken seriously. I think it was viewed as she was just another black girl that’s missing.Sanobia Wilson, aunt of Akia Eggleston (CBS Baltimore)
Update - February 3, 2022
Police announced today that they have arrested Michael Robertson and charged him with the murder of Akia Eggleston. He has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the killing of Akia and her unborn child. If found guilty, he faces a maximum of two life sentences in prison.
Michael Robertson (WMAR Baltimore)
Interviews, social media messages, and financial and telephone records were used by officials to construct a timeline of the case. They also discovered that a "volatile argument" had taken place between the pair the night before Akia's disappearance, and cellphone records show Robertson was the last person with her. Previous internet searches by Robertson were also uncovered, including searches for trash dumping locations in Baltimore. Akia's body has yet to be recovered, and Michael Robertson is currently awaiting trial.
Sources:
Arrest made in the case of Akia Eggleston, a pregnant Baltimore woman missing since 2017
41-Year-Old Man Arrested And Charged With Murder In Disappearance Of Akia Eggleston, Pregnant Woman Missing Since 2017
