OAKLAND Woman, 18, last seen walking toward BART [Missing]

SFGate.com ^ | Saturday, January 3, 2004 | Erik Ingram

[vikingchick]

A missing person bulletin has been issued for an 18-year-old Oakland woman, who was last seen Tuesday leaving her family home and walking toward the Oakland Coliseum BART station.

Police investigator Dan Castanho said authorities do not know if Stephanie Coates made it to the station after leaving her house at 6201 San Leandro Blvd.

[vikingchick]

No photo of her yet. Please post if you find one. Thanks.

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[vikingchick]

Ping.

[vikingchick]

Friends worry over missing woman, 18
Alameda High grad who lives in Oakland didn't show for work

By William Brand, STAFF WRITER

ALAMEDA -- Friends and family of a missing teenager held a second candelight vigil Saturday night in front of Alameda High, where she graduated last year.

Missing is Stephani Coates, 18. Oakland police said she was last seen walking toward the Coliseum BART station from her uncle's house on San Leandro Street about 4 p.m. Tuesday.

A close friend, Laura Davis of Alameda, said about 70 friends and relatives showed up at Friday night's vigil.

"We think this is serious; We're really worried," Davis said. "She's never disappeared like this. She hasn't answered her cell phone either."

Coates's aunt, Kymberlee Murphy, said that the young woman actually may have been last seen on Monday, Dec. 29, not Tuesday.

"She missed work at Macy's at Bayfair on Monday and that's unlike her," Murphy said. She had just gotten a temporary job at the San Leandro Macy's and was hoping to be hired permanently after the holidays. "She was very excited about working at Macy's and she didn't want to miss work."

"She had been staying at my brother's house on San Leandro Street in Oakland. My brother, Ivan Finley, said the last time he saw her she ran into the house, dropped her backpack and left for work," Murphy said. "He said it was Tuesday, but we think it was probably Monday."

Oakland police said the family first reported her missing to Alameda police, who forwarded the case to Oakland -- because she was living in Oakland and was last seen here.

Family members said Macy's reported she clocked out there at 7:06 p.m. Saturday and was due back at Monday at 5 p.m. at the receiving department where she worked.

Her aunt said Stephani lived with her in Alameda from the time she was 7 until she was a sophomore at Alameda High. At that time, she moved in with a younger sister and sister's father. She went to live with her uncle, Ivan Finley, recently, Murphy said.

Davis and other friends spent Saturday passing out fliers with Stephani's picture in Oakland. "Even if she just met a cute guy or something and took off -- she would have called one of us to brag about it," Davis said. "Besides, she's really street smart. I don't think she would fall for some guy like that.

"It just isn't like her to disappear."

Anyone with information about Coates is asked to call the Missing Persons bureau at the Oakland Police Department, (510) 238-3641.

http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,82~1865~1870505,00.html

[Palladin]

Oh, no--not again.

I pray this young woman will not end up like Dru Sjodin.

[GeronL]

last seen walking towards Bart?? Are you sure she wasn't walking toward Ernie?

[dighton]

No photo of her yet.

You might check here every so often. Newest stories will be at the top.

[vikingchick]

Thank you.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

My brother, Ivan Finley, said the last time he saw her she ran into the house, dropped her backpack and left for work," Murphy said. "He said it was Tuesday, but we think it was probably Monday."

Ivan Finley = red flag alert. He can't get the days right? What about his friends who knew she was there?

[vikingchick]

Yes, that is strange.

[FormerlyAnotherLurker]

Minor quibble - I prefer to believe that she hasn't "ended."

http://crime.about.com/library/blfiles/blcrimeweek.htm#dru

[clee1]

Prayers for the missing girl and her family.

How could something so terrible happen in Liberal Paradise? Never mind. ANYTHING can happen out there in the Den of the Wackos.

[vikingchick]

As many locals know, it's not a very nice area to be walking around in, near the Coliseum BART. [NOT blaming the victim]. I also hope and pray the girl is allright.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Found a pic of her.

Source: KGO7

Coates often uses public transportation, as she doesn't have a driver's license

[vikingchick]

Good work, CCC! Let's hope this one has a happy ending.

[Justa]

Yeah, I'm sure Fabio rode by on a white horse and they're galloping bareback and half-naked along the beach in Cuzumel right now.

[vikingchick]

Well, goodness gracious, it doesn't have to be THAT happy of an ending. :) I'd settle for her showing up safe and sound.

[vikingchick]

Happy ending: she was staying with a friend.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/gate/archive/2004/01/05/missing.DTL

[CounterCounterCulture]

Thanks for the info. Guess she was just being a brat. ;-)

[vikingchick]

That just about sums it up. :) Case closed!