Le-Shay Dungey, 19: Disappeared While Walking To Friend’s House In 2018
Like many teens, Le-Shay Dungey was out and about looking for jobs. It was January 24, 2018, when the 19-year-old was pounding the pavement. After filling out applications, she was reportedly set to visit a male friend who lived near the Ohio State University campus in Columbus. Le-Shay, known affectionately as “Shay” by her loved ones, boarded the No. 22 (some reports state it was the No. 2) COTA (Central Ohio Transit Authority). At 8:25 p.m., she contacted the friend through Facebook Messenger. She told him she was walking and wasn’t far from his home. Le-Shay asked her friend to unlock the door, but sadly, the teen didn’t reach her destination.
The bus Le-Shay was traveling in is said to have dropped her off about seven blocks away from her friend’s residence. Her parents have been in agony since she disappeared, with her father, Duane Dungey, calling this ordeal a “dad’s nightmare.” He pleaded for Le-Shay to return home safely, also stating that he “can’t describe the pain.” Le-Shay’s stepmother, Mia Johnson, dubbed Le-Shay “fearless” and said, “If she was in danger, she probably didn’t even know it.”
Safety Precautions Were In Place
Many parents do their best to keep their children safe, and Duane even had a phone tracker for his daughter in the past. Yet, he wanted to nurture her sense of independence, so he reportedly allowed Le-Shay to have her space and deleted it. Because she didn’t have a data plan on her mobile phone, Le-Shay used wireless internet to get online and communicated with her loved ones through Facebook Messenger. If she were in a location that didn’t have the internet, she most likely wouldn’t have been able to communicate. However, authorities stated that if Le-Shay had a way to contact her family, she would have.
Detective Jason Brammer of the Columbus Police Missing Persons Unit spoke with reporters and wouldn’t speculate on what could have happened to Le-Shay Dungey. “Anybody who knows anything at this point, if you saw something, if you still have video from that time, you might think it’s small, but it’s not for me…,” Brammer said. “That’s all we’re asking for, any little bit of information.”
“Her family has been going through a lot of hell over this,” Brammer added. “And it isn’t like I have a break in this case right now. I have nothing else besides hope from the community to come out if they know something. If you have any little piece of information, at this point I’m asking you to come forward.”
Le-Shay Dungey: What To Know
At the time of her disappearance, Le-Shay Dungey stood 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 129 to 140 pounds. She had black/dark brown hair and brown eyes. What she was last seen wearing is unclear. Her middle name is “Monea N’cole.” She would be 23 years old at the time of this publication.
Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the Columbus Division of Police at (614) 645-4545, Det. Brammer at 614-645-4280, the Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (anonymous), or their local authorities. Her agency case number is 183009963. Crime Stoppers has reportedly offered a reward.
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Sources:
The Columbus Dispatch
WBSN 10
NBC 4
