Nationwide — Kathy Teague, an African American mother from Chicago, Illinois, has been searching for her daughter for 43 years after she disappeared from a housing complex in 1983. She believes her child was taken and may still be alive somewhere today.
Vinyette Teague was 18 months old when she was last seen on June 25, 1983, at the Robert Taylor Homes on Chicago’s South Side. She was playing in a hallway outside the family’s apartment while relatives were nearby. Her grandmother stepped away briefly and returned to find the toddler missing.
Family members searched the entire building and nearby high-rises for days. They checked floors, units, and common areas, but found no sign of the child. The Robert Taylor Homes in Bronzeville was later demolished and many people who were present that day have since died, but the case of Vinyette Teague remains unsolved.
But still, Kathy says she never stopped believing her daughter is alive. “I believe in my heart that she is somewhere living,” she told NBC Chicago. “I believe whoever took her is taking good care of her and she does not even know she is missing.”
Over the years, several women contacted Kathy believing they might be Vinyette. Police investigated each lead, but none were confirmed. In one case, detectives ruled out a match after verification.
Retired Chicago police detective Pam Childs, who works on cold cases, said she also believes Vinyette may have survived the disappearance. She suggested the child may have been taken by someone who wanted a baby.
Authorities continue to ask for tips through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Kathy still hopes for a reunion one day.