WASHINGTON, DC — Family and friends are marking one month since Antoinette Forbes disappeared, saying the wait for answers has become one of the hardest periods their family has faced. Forbes was last seen Sept. 4 near her Northwest D.C. home along Nebraska Avenue, just steps from American University.
Her sister, Aileen Forbes, said the pain of not knowing what happened has been overwhelming. Loved ones say they have kept searching, posting her photo and urging anyone with information to come forward while D.C. police continue to investigate her disappearance.
What family members say they last saw at her home
The family says they last spoke with Forbes on Sept. 5 while making plans for the holiday season. When she did not answer for a planned Sunday call on Sept. 6, they grew concerned and asked friends to check on her.
Those friends found several personal items still inside the home, including her car keys, wallet and two phones. They also said the front door was unlocked, adding to the worry around how abruptly the contact stopped.
Forbes’ relatives say the uncertainty has been especially painful because she was preparing for ordinary family plans before she disappeared. They have continued to describe the case as deeply upsetting and difficult to process.
Police treated the case as critically missing from the start
D.C. police classified Forbes as a critically missing person and began checking local hospitals and airports soon after she was reported missing. Investigators were also seen at her home through September, carrying what appeared to be bags of evidence.
Police have said the case remains an active investigation. The search has not yet produced a public answer about where Forbes is or what happened after she was last seen near her home.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about her whereabouts to contact police. For the family, each day without news has added to the sense of urgency around the case.
Aileen Forbes says the loss feels unreal and deeply personal
In an interview, Aileen Forbes said the family is struggling to speak about what has happened because the situation still feels hard to believe. She said it is painful to think that something so serious could happen to someone described by loved ones as kind, good and beloved.
She said the last month has brought pain and suffering for the whole family, along with Antoinette Forbes’ close friends. The emotional toll has been matched by the uncertainty of not knowing where she is or whether she is safe.
Her comments reflected a steady theme from the family: they want answers, but they also want the public to keep Forbes in mind and keep sharing her image.
Posts and public appeals have continued across the month
Throughout September, loved ones have kept posting Forbes’ photo in hopes that someone might recognize her or remember seeing her. They have said their goal is to bring her home and reunite her with her family and her son.
The appeals have remained focused on simple, practical help from the public. Family members believe that even a small tip could matter if it leads investigators to new information about her movements after Sept. 4.
That continued visibility has been a major part of the effort to keep the case from fading. For the family, the monthly marker is another reminder that they are still waiting for a break.
Russell Ashford was later arrested in Pennsylvania on separate charges
As the search continued, Pennsylvania State Police confirmed on Sept. 12 that Forbes’ ex-partner, Russell Ashford, had been arrested for a parole violation tied to a case from five years earlier. In that earlier case, court records show he pleaded guilty to assaulting her.
By Sept. 16, Ashford was facing new gun possession charges in Pennsylvania. Police have not named him as a suspect in Forbes’ missing person case.
The separate charges have added another layer of attention to the case, but investigators have not publicly linked them to Forbes’ disappearance. For now, D.C. police say the missing person investigation remains open.
Police say the investigation is still active as the family waits
One month later, the case has settled into a painful pattern: loved ones searching, police investigating and no public resolution yet. The family says the silence is still the hardest part, especially because Forbes’ son is also waiting for answers.
D.C. police have not announced any breakthrough and have continued to describe the case as active. They are urging anyone who knows anything about Forbes’ whereabouts to come forward.
For her family, the hope is that someone will recognize the details surrounding the Sept. 4 disappearance and share information that could move the search forward. Until then, they say they will keep asking for help and keep saying her name.
Loved ones mark one month since Northwest D.C. mom Antoinette Forbes vanished near American University as police keep searching
Family and friends are marking one month since Antoinette Forbes disappeared, saying the wait for answers has become one of the hardest periods their family has faced. Forbes was last seen Sept. 4 near her Northwest D.C. home along Nebraska Avenue, just steps from American University.
Her sister, Aileen Forbes, said the pain of not knowing what happened has been overwhelming. Loved ones say they have kept searching, posting her photo and urging anyone with information to come forward while D.C. police continue to investigate her disappearance.
What family members say they last saw at her home
The family says they last spoke with Forbes on Sept. 5 while making plans for the holiday season. When she did not answer for a planned Sunday call on Sept. 6, they grew concerned and asked friends to check on her.
Those friends found several personal items still inside the home, including her car keys, wallet and two phones. They also said the front door was unlocked, adding to the worry around how abruptly the contact stopped.
Forbes’ relatives say the uncertainty has been especially painful because she was preparing for ordinary family plans before she disappeared. They have continued to describe the case as deeply upsetting and difficult to process.
Police treated the case as critically missing from the start
D.C. police classified Forbes as a critically missing person and began checking local hospitals and airports soon after she was reported missing. Investigators were also seen at her home through September, carrying what appeared to be bags of evidence.
Police have said the case remains an active investigation. The search has not yet produced a public answer about where Forbes is or what happened after she was last seen near her home.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about her whereabouts to contact police. For the family, each day without news has added to the sense of urgency around the case.
Aileen Forbes says the loss feels unreal and deeply personal
In an interview, Aileen Forbes said the family is struggling to speak about what has happened because the situation still feels hard to believe. She said it is painful to think that something so serious could happen to someone described by loved ones as kind, good and beloved.
She said the last month has brought pain and suffering for the whole family, along with Antoinette Forbes’ close friends. The emotional toll has been matched by the uncertainty of not knowing where she is or whether she is safe.
Her comments reflected a steady theme from the family: they want answers, but they also want the public to keep Forbes in mind and keep sharing her image.
Posts and public appeals have continued across the month
Throughout September, loved ones have kept posting Forbes’ photo in hopes that someone might recognize her or remember seeing her. They have said their goal is to bring her home and reunite her with her family and her son.
The appeals have remained focused on simple, practical help from the public. Family members believe that even a small tip could matter if it leads investigators to new information about her movements after Sept. 4.
That continued visibility has been a major part of the effort to keep the case from fading. For the family, the monthly marker is another reminder that they are still waiting for a break.
Russell Ashford was later arrested in Pennsylvania on separate charges
As the search continued, Pennsylvania State Police confirmed on Sept. 12 that Forbes’ ex-partner, Russell Ashford, had been arrested for a parole violation tied to a case from five years earlier. In that earlier case, court records show he pleaded guilty to assaulting her.
By Sept. 16, Ashford was facing new gun possession charges in Pennsylvania. Police have not named him as a suspect in Forbes’ missing person case.
The separate charges have added another layer of attention to the case, but investigators have not publicly linked them to Forbes’ disappearance. For now, D.C. police say the missing person investigation remains open.
Police say the investigation is still active as the family waits
One month later, the case has settled into a painful pattern: loved ones searching, police investigating and no public resolution yet. The family says the silence is still the hardest part, especially because Forbes’ son is also waiting for answers.
D.C. police have not announced any breakthrough and have continued to describe the case as active. They are urging anyone who knows anything about Forbes’ whereabouts to come forward.
For her family, the hope is that someone will recognize the details surrounding the Sept. 4 disappearance and share information that could move the search forward. Until then, they say they will keep asking for help and keep saying her name.
Local news that matters, from Dulaney Griffin.
