A body found in the Mississippi River over the weekend has been identified as 21-year-old Tamia Taylor.
Taylor, a native of Hernando, was last seen on September 9 in downtown Memphis mingling on a riverboat cruise with partygoers as she celebrated her birthday. She reportedly never returned with the boat.
Her mother, Debra Taylor, confirmed to WMC-TV that police informed her of the news on Tuesday. The Dock Ellis Foundation, a non-profit that aids in the search for missing women of color, was hoping the autopsy would come back negative.
“We are truly heartbroken by the identification of Tamia Taylor. Debra Taylor and her family are truly grateful for your thoughts and prayers,” a portion of the foundation’s Facebook post reads. “We will all carry Tamia Taylor in our hearts. Tamia Taylor, your life we honour, your departure we accept, your memory we cherish. And although there is grief today as we say goodbye, there is gratitude for your life.”
