Shanteria “Tia” Mosley wasn’t answering her phone. So her family went looking for her. They tracked the 26-year-old mother’s phone to an apartment complex in Smyrna, Georgia.
They found her car, knocked on doors, searched the property, and called police.
An officer responded to the Park Valley Apartments shortly before 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 23.
According to Smyrna police, the officer spent about 30 minutes at the complex, knocking on doors and talking to people. At the time, they did not have information indicating that Tia was a “critical” missing person or in immediate danger. Tia had reportedly last been seen in Atlanta, her family was advised to file a missing-person report there. At that point, although the officer left, Tia’s family didn’t.
SOURCE: FOX 5 Atlanta / ABC News
About half an hour later, according to police and court records, Tia’s aunt allegedly saw an 18-year-old resident of the apartment complex named Kingston Bradley carrying a large plastic tub. According to an arrest warrant, when Bradley realized someone had seen him, he dropped the container and ran back toward his apartment.
Inside the tub was a dismembered human torso. Tia’s family recognized the torso as Tia’s from a tattoo.
SOURCE: Arrest warrant reporting via AJC / family interview via WSB-TV
Tia’s family had gone there hoping to bring her home. Instead, they became part of the awful and unimaginable discovery of what police now believe are her remains.
SHE WAS MORE THAN WHAT HAPPENED TO HER
The details of this case are horrific. Shanteria Mosley, whom her loved ones called her Tia and KT was only 26 years old. She was a mother who worked as a DoorDash driver.
Saturday night, the people who loved her gathered with candles and balloons to remember the person she was before strangers across the country knew her because of the terrible way in which she died and was discovered.
SOURCE: 11Alive, Sept. 26 vigil coverage
Headlines about this case have understandably focused on words like dismembered, torso and body parts. But somebody loved Tia before any of those words became attached to her name. Somebody noticed when she stopped answering and they went looking.
WHAT POLICE SAY THEY FOUND
Police arrested Bradley and initially charged him with concealing the death of another person. Investigators then obtained a search warrant for his apartment.
According to an arrest warrant obtained by local media, officers allegedly discovered several areas of blood staining inside. They also allegedly found a large saw with blood on it, a mop and bucket, a carpet cleaner and a strong smell of bleach. Investigators have not publicly established that every item recovered was used in Tia’s killing, and of course, Bradley has not been convicted of a crime.
SOURCE: Atlanta Journal-Constitution / Atlanta News First
Then came another discovery.
On Friday evening, September 25, detectives executed a search warrant on a vehicle. Inside the trunk were garbage bags. Police said one was pulled tightly enough that investigators could see the outline of what appeared to be a body part. That was when they stopped and called the Cobb County Medical Examiner’s Office. When the bags were opened, authorities confirmed they contained additional human remains. Smyrna police said they believe those remains belong to Tia.
Bradley was subsequently charged with malice murder in addition to concealing a death. He is being held without bond.
SOURCE: Smyrna Police via FOX 5 Atlanta / ABC News / WSB-TV
THERE IS STILL A LOT WE DON’T KNOW
One of the biggest questions is also one of the simplest: Why was Tia at that apartment complex? Police say they are still trying to determine what, if any, relationship existed between Tia and Bradley.
And there is an important correction to some of the earliest versions of this story. Tia worked for DoorDash and although her family understood that she had left to work that day. Police say records provided by DoorDash indicate Tia was not logged into the platform or accepting deliveries that day. There is currently no evidence that she made a DoorDash delivery to the apartment where her remains were found.
So while “DoorDash driver killed while making a delivery” makes for a frightening headline, investigators have not established that happened.
Police also have not publicly disclosed exactly how Tia died. And as investigators continue processing evidence, they have said they are still following leads and conducting interviews to determine whether anyone else may have been involved.
SOURCE: ABC News / Smyrna Police
HER FAMILY FOUND HER WHEN THEY WOULDN’T STOP LOOKING
Tia’s family found her vehicle, they tracked her phone to the apartment complex, they called police. An officer came. And police say that officer spent approximately 30 minutes knocking on doors and investigating before leaving.
Roughly 30 minutes later, officers were called back. By then, according to investigators, a witness had seen Bradley carrying the plastic tub.
SOURCE: FOX 5 Atlanta / ABC News
Tia’s family has publicly criticized that initial police response. Smyrna police, meanwhile, say the officer did not have information at the time indicating Tia was a critical missing person or facing immediate danger. Because she was reportedly last seen in Atlanta, the family was directed to file the missing-person report with Atlanta police. There is no evidence currently showing that Tia was still alive when that first officer arrived.
I do think the timeline deserves questions. Because ultimately, after the officer left, Tia’s family stayed and kept searching. And they found her.
THE GOOD DEED
Because I’ve searched for a fundraiser connected to Tia’s family, and as of publication I have not found one that I can independently verify.
However, it is well known that there is a disparity in how missing persons cases are publicized when it comes to color of the victim. You can help by supporting Black & Missing Foundation. Check them out and donate here.
Tia’s loved ones gathered Saturday night to remember her, and I will update this story if her family identifies a verified funeral fund, fundraiser or organization they want people to support.
Until then, maybe the Good Deed is smaller.
Remember that Tia was a person before she was a headline.