The sister of a mother from Washington, D.C., who went missing last week noticed troubling signs in her home that raised alarms, prompting an ongoing police investigation. The case has since been reclassified as that of a critically missing person.
Antoinette Forbes, aged 53, was last seen around 3 p.m. on a Friday at her residence located in the 3200 block of Nebraska Avenue NW, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. Authorities are encouraging anyone with information about her situation to step forward.
Family friend Elizabeth Northrup stated that Forbes was initially reported missing, but within 24 hours the police escalated her status to critically missing, which indicates a belief that the individual is in danger or facing life-threatening circumstances.
“I knew immediately that something was wrong,” Aileen Forbes, Antoinette’s sister, shared.
The sisters had spoken via FaceTime on Saturday morning, discussing plans to visit their mother in Florida for the holidays. Aileen described it as simply a regular catch-up with her sister, which they did frequently.
However, Aileen later tested positive for COVID-19 by Labor Day. Concerned for Antoinette’s health, she tried to reach her. After her messages went unanswered, she contacted family friends nearby.
Those friends, who had a key to the house, let themselves in and quickly noticed alarming signs. Aileen recounted that Antoinette’s dog, Max, was found alone in the home, having been left unattended for quite some time, and that her car was still parked in the driveway. Additionally, her phone and wallet were left behind.
Prompted by these distressing findings, the family alerted the authorities.
Aileen indicated that the police have treated the home as an active crime scene, restricting access to everyone, including family members.
Despite the detectives not providing many new updates, Aileen stated they have been in touch with the family, continually accepting tips that might help with the investigation.
“I know they have been working tirelessly since Monday afternoon, around the clock,” Aileen mentioned.
She also emphasized that nothing in Antoinette’s life suggested she would choose to disappear. “Antoinette has a full, rich life,” she added, highlighting her sister’s success both personally and professionally. Aileen described her sister as a dedicated mother who was highly focused on her 10-year-old son, Nathan, and their dog, Max.
If given a chance to speak directly to her sister, Aileen said she would express, “Antoinette, you know how much we love you. You know who loves you. Keep the faith. We’re not going to give up. We’re going to bring you home.”
Forbes is described as being 5 feet, 2 inches tall, weighing about 115 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with any information on her whereabouts is encouraged to reach out to the Metropolitan Police Department.
